Sacramento Kings trade rumors 2016: why trade DeMarcus Cousins now?

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (L) and Toronto Raptors big man Amir Johnson (R) fight for the loose ball during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Sacramento, California.REUTERS/Max Whittaker

Sacramento Kings superstar DeMarcus Cousins is arguably the most talked about player in the National Basketball Association when it comes to trade rumors. The superstar big man is producing the kind of numbers that will make every NBA executive think of trading for him, so why is it that hundreds of publications out there think that the Kings want him gone?

For starters, as much as how good Cousins has been all throughout his career, Sacramento has not had a winning season since he came in as a hyped rookie in 2010. It's not a question of talent or the lack thereof; it is more of the issue of him being the right player to become the team's centerpiece. Also, the team's struggles for so many years now could also be attributed to the lack of commitment to building a playoff contender. Yes, Cousins is one of the top five centers in this league, but he has not, in any season in his six-year career, been provided with ample support.

One recent report revealed that several league executives are under the strong belief that the 26-year-old will finally be playing for a new team before the February 2017 trade deadline. However, the report also cited one executive as saying that it would be a very difficult negotiation and search process for Sacramento to find takers considering that most teams wouldn't want to give a lot to get Cousins in return.

But if the Kings fail to make a move in less than three months, it means they once again will have to face an uncertain future, including next season. The team is currently losing more than winning early in the regular season and that's not really a surprise. If the front office wants to have a brighter future ahead, they have to decide if Cousins should or shouldn't be a part of it; and they have to decide fast.