DeMarcus Cousins looking to be... better

Cousins, however, said he's committed to putting the past behind him and becoming a team leader.

"To (critics), the leader is the clean-cut guy, the nice guy," Cousins said. "I'm going to go out there every night and leave it on the floor. I'm the leader of this team. First one in, last one out, and I'm going to show it on the floor every night. That's being a leader. I'm going to be the one diving on the floor for balls."

When Malone was hired, he told Cousins he needed him to be a leader and harder worker.

-- Sacramento Bee