NBA Free Agency Rumors: DeMarcus Cousins Seeks A Max Contract

Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is entering the last year of his rookie contract.

According to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee, Cousins and his agent, Dan Fegan, of Dwight Howard fame, are seeking a max contract.

Fegan has instructed Cousins not to speak on the matter or “anything relating to the Kings team, management or ownership.”

New Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro called Cousins “an unbelievable talent.”

“I can’t speak more highly about him as a player,”. D’Alessandro told Jones. “I will be getting in touch with him, for sure. He’s unbelievable. He’s a very important part of what we’re looking to do.”

Cousins is set to make $4,916,974 this season. He is qualifying offer worth $6,519,907 for the 2014-15 season. If the Kings choose to make that qualifying offer and it would be surprising if they didn’t, Cousins will become a restricted free agent, allowing the Kings to match any offer sheet he signs.

During the 2012-13, Cousins’ third, he averaged 17.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, down from the 18.1 and 11.0 rebounds per game he averaged the season ago.

Cousins was selected by the Kings with fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

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