Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans, Matt Barnes waived

The New Orleans Pelicans have completed a trade with the Sacramento Kings, acquiring center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Omri Casspi in exchange for guards Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and two future draft picks.

Additionally, the Kings have waived forward Matt Barnes. A 14-year NBA veteran, the UCLA alum is averaging 7.6 points (.384 FG%, .327 3pt%, .758 FT%), 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 25.3 minutes per contest in 54 games (started 13) for Sacramento after joining the team prior to the start of this season.

“We’re thrilled to welcome DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans family,” stated Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps. “This is an exciting time for Pelicans fans as we continue our quest for long-term success. I know our fans are equally excited to welcome DeMarcus and Omri to our great city.
“I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Dennis Lauscha and Mickey Loomis for their continued support and providing the resources for us to be successful. I’d also like to thank Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and Buddy Hield for their professionalism and hard work on the court and in the community during their tenure in New Orleans.”

“It was time for a change and I decided this was the best direction for the organization, said Kings Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac. “Winning begins with culture and character matters. With the upcoming draft class set to be one of the strongest in a decade, this trade will allow us to build the depth needed for a talented and developing roster moving forward. We thank DeMarcus for his contributions and wish him all the best in New Orleans. The fans in Sacramento are the best in the world and we are all committed to building a team that will continue to make Sacramento proud.”

Cousins, 6-11, 270, has appeared in 55 games this season, averaging 27.8 points (ranked fourth in the NBA), 10.7 rebounds (ranked 11th in the NBA), 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks. Drafted fifth overall by Sacramento in 2010 out of the University of Kentucky, Cousins has appeared in 470 career games, averaging 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks. Cousins is a three-time NBA All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017), named to the All-NBA Second Team twice (2015, 2016), was a member of the All-Rookie First Team in 2011, and has won gold medals with Team USA at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

Casspi, 6-9, 225, has appeared in 22 games this season with the Kings, averaging 5.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists. Drafted by Sacramento with 23rd overall pick in 2011, Casspi has appeared in 485 regular season games with Sacramento, Cleveland and Houston.

A 6-5 guard and 2015-16 recipient of the John R. Wooden Award bestowed on the nation’s best collegiate basketball player, Hield joins the Kings in his rookie campaign after New Orleans tabbed him with the sixth overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma. In 57 contests with the Pelicans this season, he accrued averages of 8.6 points (.392 FG%, .369 3pt%, .879 FT%), 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.2 minutes per game in 57 contests (stated 37).

Evans returns to Sacramento where he earned 2009 Rookie of the Year honors after being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. An eight-year league veteran, he has amassed 16.3 points (.444 FG%, .289 3pt%, .757 FT%), 4.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 32.5 minutes per game in 459 NBA games (started 370). The Memphis Tiger enjoyed his most prolific seasons in a Kings jersey, registering 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 35 minutes per contest in 257 games (started 247).

In his third NBA campaign, Galloway averaged 8.6 points (.374 FG%, .377 3pt%, .769 FT%), 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.4 minutes per contest in 55 games for New Orleans this season. The St. Joseph’s alum previously spent parts of two seasons with the New York Knicks, where he saw action in all 82 games in 2015-16.

Report: Kings trading DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans

Report: Kings trading DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans

Mere minutes after DeMarcus Cousins deflected questions about a possible trade to New Orleans, the Pelicans and Sacramento Kings agreed to a deal that will pair the All-Star power forward with superstar Anthony Davis, a league source confirmed late Sunday night.

The Pelicans agreed to send rookie first-round pick Buddy Hield, veteran swingman Tyreke Evans and guard Langston Galloway along with their first- and second-round picks in June’s draft to Sacramento, the source said…

Pelicans general manager Dell Demps had been actively trying to land a complement to Davis before Thursday’s trade deadline. Demps also engaged the Philadelphia 76ers about acquiring forward Jahlil Okafor and the Brooklyn Nets about center Brook Lopez. ESPN reported Demps also had talks with the Indiana Pacers about All-Star small forward Paul George.

— New Orleans Times-Picayune

Anthony Davis wins 2017 NBA All-Star Game MVP

Anthony Davis wins 2017 NBA All-Star Game MVP

New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. Davis finished the game with 52 points, setting an NBA All-Star Game scoring record, previously held by Wilt Chamberlain (42 points, 1962) to go with 10 rebounds as the Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 192-182 at the Smoothie King Center.

Davis, playing in his third All-Star Game (his fourth time named an All-Star overall), becomes the first player in franchise history to win the MVP award of the All-Star Game. Davis was named a starter on January 20, 2017.

Davis has appeared in 53 games this season for the Pelicans, averaging 27.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, ranking fourth, sixth, and second in the NBA in each category, respectively.

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New Orleans basketball fans didn’t have to wait long to get their NBA All-Star moment on Sunday night.

Just 10 seconds into the game, hometown hero Anthony Davis drained a 21-foot jumper from the top of the key. And with that, the tone was set and the most New Orleans-flavored All-Star Game in history was underway.

The bucket was the first of 26 by Davis as he took home MVP honors by shattering Wilt Chamberlain’s 55-year-old All-Star Game scoring record with 52 points.

— New Orleans Times-Picayune

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a team-high 30 points and pounded home some crowd-pleasing dunks, but the Western Conference all-stars pulled away in the final quarter for a 192-182 victory over the East in the NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center.

New Orleans forward Anthony Davis set an NBA All-Star Game record with 52 points to lead the West, beating the mark of 42 points set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962. Russell Westbrook just missed beating Chamberlain’s mark, scoring 41 points.

Antetokounmpo was impressive with 14-of-17 shooting on layups and dunks. He attempted a single three-pointer and missed it. He scored in the last second to reach the 30-point mark, the most scored by a Bucks player in an NBA All-Star Game. He also had six rebounds, three steals and one assist while playing 23 minutes.

— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel