Pierce Can Lead the Celtics and Cousins Can Follow
For a certain section of Celtics fans, this is the most wonderful time of the year and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge is surely among those who are captivated by the NBA offseason.
The Celtics promised fireworks last year and came back with a pack of sparklers. However this offseason, as of right now, seems different.
Ainge admitted that they Celtics are looking to trade up in the draft, but that isn’t the only chatter happening.
Trade rumors are swirling around the Celtics with the primary target being Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins.
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There is not doubt Cousins is one of the top centers in the league: averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds per game last year. The only question mark is his ability to lead his team to the Finals.
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Luckily, if he came to Boston he wouldn’t have to.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported today that Paul Pierce would return to the Celtics if they landed Kevin Love in free agency.
But, if the Celtics don’t get lucky with Love for the second straight summer and yet somehow land Cousins, who’s to say the offer doesn’t still stand.
In that case, Pierce would be even more needed.
I am in the #CousinsToBoston camp, but I don’t believe he can be the face of the franchise. He is more suited being the number 2 on a championship roster.
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Being realistic, however, the Celtics cannot sign a number one option right now and it doesn’t appear they can draft one either.
The only player that could command respect and is easily attainable is the former captain. He would have the authority and be the alpha dog on the parquet that Cousins would have to respect.
It will take a lot to acquire Cousins, but he is a player that can impact a franchise and with Stevens and potentially Pierce molding him, he will find the stability he needs.
Cousins has practically had a new coach every season during his time in the NBA, and has barely cracked 30 wins in a season. I am confident Brad Stevens could find a way to tap into him and the big man would be able to boogie in his system.
It won’t be easy for the C’s to land Cousins and it may cost them Marcus Smart, but a player of Cousin’s caliber is worth it.
For DeMarcus, the opportunity to join one of the most storied franchises in all of sports, in addition to playing under the promising young coach in Brad Stevens while learning the ropes from the legendary Paul Pierce, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.