http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/13/...nded-donte-greene-fight-sacramento-kings-nba/ Kings Remove DeMarcus Cousins From Team Plane Following Altercation By Sam Amick SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Kings rookie forward DeMarcus Cousins was removed from team plane bound for Phoenix after an altercation with teammate Donte Greene, according to two sources close to the organization. The incident, which was first reported by FanHouse, immediately followed a loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday night. Cousins, who had overcome early-season struggles of the performance and personality variety recently, is expected to be suspended for at least one game. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie did not immediately return a call for comment. Follow This Story on Twitter With @samickAOL According to the sources, Cousins (whose postgame interview can be seen here) was furious at the last play in which Tyreke Evans missed a three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation that would have won the game. Cousins, who had been calling for the ball in the post in the final possession, watched angrily as Greene inbounded the ball to Evans for the final shot. After the buzzer, he ran the length of the court to catch up to Evans and Greene and was letting his opinions be known as he blew by them to enter the locker room. According to the sources, Greene and Cousins began exchanging words inside the locker room. The situation then escalated, with both players taking swings at each other before they were separated. Petrie, according to the sources, made the decision to remove Cousins from the plane and will decide on Sunday how to proceed. It was a decision that was not popular with at least one member of the team, as one of the sources said veteran swingman Francisco Garcia argued vehemently for Cousins to remain on the plane before relenting when he was told his fight was futile. There is certainly a bigger picture to consider for the Kings, though, as their volatile 20-year-old who was taken fifth overall in the June draft clearly has no plans to keep quiet about what ails the team. The situation has become nothing short of a power struggle between the rookie and the reigning Rookie of the Year, with Cousins' improved play of late giving him the gumption to question the way in which Evans is so often given carte blanche control of scenarios such as these. As first reported by FanHouse, Kings coach Paul Westphal had voiced his frustrations with Evans in a postgame locker room scene on Monday for the way in which he handled Utah's zone defense late in a loss. Yet Westphal and Evans met the following day, according to Evans, at which time the player said Westphal smoothed the matter over and they came to an unofficial agreement regarding the team's late-game approach. "We're on the same page," Evans told FanHouse on Wednesday. "(Westphal) knows when it's time, when the game is on the line, give me the ball and (I'll) try to make a play." Evans fell short against Dallas on Wednesday, though, driving into the teeth of the Mavericks' defense before his shot was blocked by Tyson Chandler with 12 second remaining and the Kings trailing by two points. Cousins, as he has now made clear, is of the opinion that he should receive strong consideration for such crucial moments. Still, his latest blow-up is a significant setback to a season that had an inauspicious start. Cousins was fined $5,000 by the team in October for exchanging words with strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro. The run-in took place just days after he and assistant coach Truck Robinson had a heated disagreement during practice that earned Cousins Petrie's ire. Then on Nov. 29, Cousins was kicked out of practice by Westphal after exchanging words with the head coach. On Dec. 23, he lost his starting job temporarily after making a choking gesture to Golden State's Reggie Williams while he was at the free throw line late in a Dec. 21 game. Westphal deemed the behavior unprofessional, and said Cousins wouldn't start again until he raised his standards of conduct. Cousins had been on good behavior since then, however, and his production saw a spike from November to December that had continued right on into January. In the 22 games since Dec. 29, Cousins has averaged 17.3 points (46.1 percent shooting) and nine rebounds.
An unproven rookie who keeps perpetuating the perception that his horrible attitude will rip a team apart long before he leads it to a championship. No thanks to Cousins. We don't need some fatso rookie who thinks he's better than everyone else.
Markin, scola, and brooks for cousins. Too much for kings to turn down. If the trade blows up at least we get a lot of cap room.
There was an episode of the original Star Trek series where Kirk was split into two people: one super-aggressive, the other kind of timid. Makes me think there was another ball-player that got split into Cousins and Jordan Hill. One is so aggressive he starts fights after the game in the locker room, then on the plane. The other player, not so much. As for trading for the guy, I think he has crossed the line. Maybe in a few years, he'll grow up. Now, if they let him go for cheap, I'd take him. Else, let's keep looking.
The Kings are not going to give him up, but if there's a chance, give them whatever they want for Cousins.
LOL its like you didn't even read the previous posts. We bring him here, he starts crying because Rick the Ruler doesn't play him, and next thing you know he's choking the life off Brooks in the back of the plane while eating a doughnut and some pizza.
The Kings will replace the entire roster and coaching staff before giving up on Cousins, and our entire starting lineup isn't enough to match his current value.
This guy is the next Shaq, only more skilled. Sacramento ain't gonna give him up. If they are, I'd trade 100 future first rounders plus martin and scola for him.
Some combination of: Adelman, Brooks, Yao's contract, Brad, JJ, JHill, and/or TWill for Cousins and Garcia?
Cousins would be a total mistake for the Rockets. He is not the kind of player for whom we as fans could cheer for very long. Also, he is only 6-9 without shoes and only 6-10.5 with shoes. He reminds me of a less athletic Eddy Curry and IMO will wind up in the same NBA dumpster. Jordan Hill is taller than Cousins and has better hops. I hope we are patient enough to draft Jonas Valanciunas or sign FA Kyrylo Fesenko or trade for another true center.
Cousin's has a winners mentality, he's borderline insane but thats what Houston could use. He could be the next Artest, but with talent and size. I'm down for it we need a hardass to help out all these softies. But would Sac give up Cousins before Evans? We have the veteran leadership that could tone him down, plus he could get work with Hakeem here... Management needs to take some risks. Scola is peaked, awesome player but no good here.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=498w3t3 Something like that could work maybe. We could start Cousins at Center and have Hayes start at the power forward. Trade the rights to whoever we draft in 2011 since we can't trade the pick to Sacramento, and the New York 2012 to Memphis.
Haha, I'm guessing we'll have to send them Brooks+Scola+Patterson+Martin...then MAYBE they will talk.
