In today’s NBA news, Kings center DeMarcus Cousins gets a big contract extension, and we still have no timetable on when Danilo Gallinari will return from his knee injury.
Big Cuz gets his money
According to a tweet from Adrian Wojnarowksi, the Kings and star center DeMarcus Cousins have agreed on a max contract extension worth $62 million over four years. The deal will kick in starting next season and run through the 2017-18 season.
Cousins, 23, is coming off a “sub-par” season in which he averaged 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest. He also ranked in the top 10 of PER (Player Efficiency Rating) amongst centers last season with a 20.2.
With this max extension, Cousins has now joined fellow 2010 draftees John Wall, Paul George and Larry Sanders as the only four to receive big money following the expiration their rookie contracts.
If Cousins wants to live up to this deal, he will need to learn how to control his temper better. He amassed 15 technical fouls last season, which led the NBA. He has also never really gotten along with his coaches. Many believe he is the reason the Kings fired former head man Paul Westphal two years ago.
Despite all the anger problems, Cousins is a phenomenal talent. He is clearly is the Kings’ best all-around player and it was a no-brainer for management to lock him up long-term. At 23, the sky is the limit for Cousins, and there is no reason to doubt that he will be a top-10 player in the NBA within the next few years; as long as he could keep his head on straight.
To read more about Cousins and the rest of the 2010 draft class possibly getting paid, click here
No timetable on Gallo
The Denver Post is reporting that Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari has no timetable on when he will return from his torn ACL. The thought was that he would be back by the end of November, but now that claim is out the window.
When asked about Gallo’s possible return, head coach Brian Shaw had this to say:
“There’s been several different prognoses of when he’s going to return – he’s ahead of schedule, he’s not. I don’t think that’s anythi
ng anyone can determine at this point, Shaw said. “We will just try to hold the fort down until he is able to get back and feels strong enough to get out there on the floor.”
Gallinari is Denver’s best shooter and his absence will certainly hurt. Wilson Chandler is expected to fill in for Gallo while he is out and should provide some much needed scoring for the new-look Nuggets.
Denver will look to play a much more defensive style of basketball this season under Shaw. If all goes well, this young Nuggets squad should compete for one of the top five seeds in the crowded Western Conference this season.
To read our Nuggets season preview, click here
“superstar center Demarcus Cousins”
According to WHOM?