Napier: "Cousins is the Worst Guy on the Team"

[Kingster]

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and interpret it to mean that Cousins is the worst guy that gets any kind of playing time on this team. But that's what Napier said yesterday. Didn't pull any punches. Said his game is way down from last year, has a poor shooting percentage, and that he gets distracted by things (refs, etc) and doesn't concentrate on the game. He said he's been a great dissapointment, and he really didn't like Cousins trotting up the floor in the Clippers game.

[UK_King]

I listened to his show yesterday and he went in on Cuz. He also went in on C-webb too.

I think he was slightly ott, but a lot of what he said was true sadly.

[DesertFox]

Napier is usually a parrot of what the Maloofs want the fans to think.
Cwebb, BJax, Kmart, etc. Soon before those guys got shipped out Napier suddenly turned sour on them.

I don't necessarily think this means Cuz is available, but one can infer that. Because his value is not going to get a fair return, I certainly hope it isn't true.

[UK_King]

He was even asking cuz to phone him up and debate him! lol.

can you imagine that. Baffling.

[Section 101]

And yet Cuz is still the most productive player on the court.

[Padrino]

And yet Cuz is still the most productive player on the court.

indeed. i get more and more convinced that sacramento is really as "small town" as it wants to be, where people are shocked, awed, and aghast at the slightest bit of controversy. what's the purpose of pointing out that "cousins is the worst guy on the team"? yes, he's been immature. yes, he's underperformed. yes, sometimes he loafs it out there. but he's also been occasionally brilliant. even on bad nights, demarcus still manages to put up 15/12. the point of emphasis should not be that demarcus is not playing up to expectation. it should instead be on how to get demarcus playing up to those expectations. sure, you can trade a problem player like demarcus and get some wholesome players in return who might someday be half as good. but that's just the spinning of wheels. oh wait, i forgot, this is the sacramento kings, where nobody has the patience for an honest rebuild, and the spinning of wheels is highly valued...

[NoBonus]

This starts, not with Cousins, but at the top... does anyone really believe this team is rebuilding? Do the Kings players believe they are going to be supported in a way that will help them win? Is there any perception of this team other than perrenial bottom dweller? Is ownership going to pull the trigger on a new great player regardless of the costs if it takes the team to the next level? NO ONE BELIEVES THIS! The owners are only interested in not spending their trust funds down any further, that's it, plain and simple, end of story. Cousins is in a poisonous environment... how would you like the be the face of the Kings? It would suck, plain and simple.

[Bricklayer]

He was even asking cuz to phone him up and debate him! lol.

can you imagine that. Baffling.

I'm going to choose to look at the positives here: after how Cuz reacted to Sean Elliot, there is a healthy chance that Cuz comes out before the game and just ends Grant tonight, so the season won't have been a total loss.

[Uncia03]

This really, really, really frustrates me.

We hit lottery gold by getting Cousins, and now it looks as if the Organization has decided to throw Cousins under the bus and is looking to down-play Cousin's ability/talent in an effort to distance themselves from him. Right now would be the worst time to try and move him because his value is at an all-time low, and even with that being the case, most teams would probably be interested in him due to his talent, which means we need to keep him.

You all heard the stories about the players getting together over the summer, working together, pumping each other up to make a run for the play-offs this season.
All that is now gone.

Our coach, with his inability to define roles, play consistent rotations, or implement a basic half-court offense has strangled the life out of this team.

And now it looks as if the Organization is deciding to throw Cousins under the bus for all of its misfortunes. Let me be clear, Cousins does hold some accountability for his actions. But let's also be clear that if the team were winning games due to better game management and execution, the entire team would be putting forth more effort and things would look a lot better.

And now I think it's only going to get worse.
This about this.
Cousins is an emotional and sensitive kid who has a world of talent and believes that he has the ability/talent to be one of the best, if not the best Center in the league.
Now, the bumbling FO is calling him out, saying that he's the main problem. How do you think he's going to respond?
My guess is that he'll respond by doing everything he can to get out of Sacramento, and then take his revenge by pounding on this team whenever he gets the chance.

You might think that is an immature response, but something like that wouldn't surprise me in the least. The Maloofs and Coach Smart haven't displayed any sort of ability to put together a winning team or culture, and so I don't believe they have Cousin's respect.

[Bricklayer]

This really, really, really frustrates me.

We hit lottery gold by getting Cousins, and now it looks as if the Organization has decided to throw Cousins under the bus and is looking to down-play Cousin's ability/talent in an effort to distance themselves from him. Right now would be the worst time to try and move him because his value is at an all-time low, and even with that being the case, most teams would probably be interested in him due to his talent, which means we need to keep him.

You all heard the stories about the players getting together over the summer, working together, pumping each other up to make a run for the play-offs this season.
All that is now gone.

Our coach, with his inability to define roles, play consistent rotations, or implement a basic half-court offense has strangled the life out of this team.

And now it looks as if the Organization is deciding to throw Cousins under the bus for all of its misfortunes. Let me be clear, Cousins does hold some accountability for his actions. But let's also be clear that if the team were winning games due to better game management and execution, the entire team would be putting forth more effort and things would look a lot better.

And now I think it's only going to get worse.
This about this.
Cousins is an emotional and sensitive kid who has a world of talent and believes that he has the ability/talent to be one of the best, if not the best Center in the league.
Now, the bumbling FO is calling him out, saying that he's the main problem. How do you think he's going to respond?
My guess is that he'll respond by doing everything he can to get out of Sacramento, and then take his revenge by pounding on this team whenever he gets the chance.

You might think that is an immature response, but something like that wouldn't surprise me in the least. The Maloofs and Coach Smart haven't displayed any sort of ability to put together a winning team or culture, and so I don't believe they have Cousin's respect.

entirely possible.

I laughed when people said oh, we don't want to trade Kevin Martin because he'll come back and kill us. Laughed because it was patently obvious Kevin Martin didn't have that in him. But DeMarcus Cousins does. He has it in him to make blowing it with him the single worst thing this franchise has ever done, and its had a lot of them.

[rainmaker]

Why are these Cuz threads in the personnel moves forum?

Napear is an idiot. Who the hell cares what he thinks. He lost all respect with his Maloof backing regarding the arena.

But, he also supported our last four head coaches while they were here, then blasted them after they were fired.

He's backed players while they're here, then blasted them after they left.

He's backed every single player acquisition we've made the last couple years. told us all how much they'd improve the team and hung up on any caller who said otherwise. Now he's coming out and saying the talent doesn't fit? Well, no s***it doesn't fit.

Now blasting Cuz, the easy target. He's played poorly, no doubt about it, but Grant's lack of a basketball mind isn't capable of delving deeper and looking at the larger problems.

Anyone else think part of it is Cuz is fed up with Smart? I do. Cuz needs to grow up, but I doubt if someone caught him in a private moment he'd back Smart.

Our media is full of all types of idiocy. Afraid to ask hard questions, provide much analysis and not step on toes and lose their media passes. Notice just about every blog and newspaper backed all our recent acquisitions. Now they mostly say the pieces might not fit while some here have been screaming that for close to two years.

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I'm going to choose to look at the positives here: after how Cuz reacted to Sean Elliot, there is a healthy chance that Cuz comes out before the game and just ends Grant tonight, so the season won't have been a total loss.

Incredibly hopeful observation! This team's drama will never end. Smh

[DesertFox]

So is anyone worried the team is going to get blown up, but starting with Cousins? There are moves I would make involving Cousins. I just don't see them being possible, more likely a dump for lesser talent.

[Reke 13 Havoc]

Cousins lack of "give a crap" out on the floor is just a sign of how much all the players hate the coach, i just think DMC is the only one not doing a good job of hiding it. he's obivously the type that is not good at hiding emotions

[Bricklayer]

All based on Napier flapping his gums? No.

Napioer is a scum, he's stabbed almost every King inthe back at some point, in particular anybody non-vanilla who won't just passively take his crap. I consider this more a problem in that Cousins is highly defensive and could turn on us due to Grant's mongering, rather than us turnign on him.

[tyreeeke]

Cuz has been put in a leadership position and he is NOT even close to being a leader. Of course he isn't meeting unrealistic expectations. As a 3rd fiddle and dirty work player, he could be a great role player. LA should try to get him and rid themselves of Pau.

[NoBonus]

All based on Napier flapping his gums? No.

Napioer is a scum, he's stabbed almost every King inthe back at some point, in particular anybody non-vanilla who won't just passively take his crap. I consider this more a problem in that Cousins is highly defensive and could turn on us due to Grant's mongering, rather than us turnign on him.

I think the whole arena debacle when he was defending the mafools for backing out of the arena deal not ever mentioning the reality of the situation (the mafools are trust fund babies and after destroying their family empire all they have left is some Wells Fargo stock to live off of and there is no way in the world they will put any of that up for collateral) it made it very clear to me:

Grant Napier is the stool, I mean tool of the mafools. and, to paraphrase, "If you don't like that, you don't like morally corrupt corporate mouthpieces!"

Just for fun, what are some other ways to twist Grant's one and only famous line to fit this scenario?
-If you don't like that, you don't like being lied to!
-If you don't like that, you don't like red, I mean yellow journalism!

Let's all play!

[DesertFox]

All based on Napier flapping his gums? No.

Napioer is a scum, he's stabbed almost every King inthe back at some point, in particular anybody non-vanilla who won't just passively take his crap. I consider this more a problem in that Cousins is highly defensive and could turn on us due to Grant's mongering, rather than us turnign on him.

Grant's rants are usually a reflection of what the Maloofs want to be heard. Every other time Grant has ripped someone they are gone or on their way out.

The second he said TWill had an attitude, no way he was coming back. Grant was slobbering on the radio about the Kings making a move for a veteran PG, lo and behold the underwelming Brooks.

While I put no value on Grant's opinion, it is a reflection of that of his bosses. So either Grant has grown enough balls to criticize the team, or Cuz is being shopped.

[Prince_XY]

Our coach, with his inability to define roles, play consistent rotations, or implement a basic half-court offense has strangled the life out of this team.

And now it looks as if the Organization is deciding to throw Cousins under the bus for all of its misfortunes. Let me be clear, Cousins does hold some accountability for his actions. But let's also be clear that if the team were winning games due to better game management and execution, the entire team would be putting forth more effort and things would look a lot better.

And now I think it's only going to get worse.
This about this.
Cousins is an emotional and sensitive kid who has a world of talent and believes that he has the ability/talent to be one of the best, if not the best Center in the league.
Now, the bumbling FO is calling him out, saying that he's the main problem. How do you think he's going to respond?
My guess is that he'll respond by doing everything he can to get out of Sacramento, and then take his revenge by pounding on this team whenever he gets the chance.

You might think that is an immature response, but something like that wouldn't surprise me in the least. The Maloofs and Coach Smart haven't displayed any sort of ability to put together a winning team or culture, and so I don't believe they have Cousin's respect.

I can see how we can point the fault on coach Smart when it comes to game management and execution.

But the owners?

Do they really have a direct thing to do with what is happening to Cousins?

And what about the most important person who can easily change things in this team (PETRIE)?

I think more than anyone, this guys name is the guy to blame on whatever bad happening in the franchise (regarding basketball) in this team.

Hmmm. What is Petrie's job title in the organization again?

[swisshh]

Cousins really excelled when IT was running the offense. We've moved Cuz to the top of the key to make space for our guards to drive, but it has hurt his game. He's not ready to run the offense and there's really nobody on the team that can show him how. The closest is Chuck Hayes, but Chuck doesn't have the same game as Cuz.

Grant ranting on Cousins may be taken as a sign that they're ready to trade Cousins, but changing the offense to better feature Tyreke might be part of upping Evans trade value. I am pretty sure at this point that both young players won't be on the team next year. One of them will be gone.