DeMarcus Cousins Confirms Intent to Sign Extension with Kings

UPDATE (11:25 p.m. PT): Cousins confirms that he does indeed intend to sign an extension with the Sacramento Kings. “Guess what, people, I’m here!”

—video via CSN Bay Area

Original story follows...

DeMarcus Cousins intends to sign a “massive” extension with the Sacramento Kings this summer, according to James Ham of CSN California.

Cousins and the Kings are still reportedly hammering out the details of the deal, but Cousins will be eligible for the league’s new “Designated Player Extension” (DPE), created by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

As such, Cousins could sign for as many as five additional years, on top of the one season remaining on his contract, committing him to the Kings through the 2022-2023 season. A DPE contract would allow the Kings to pay Cousins up to 35 percent of their salary cap in its first year - which could translate to about $207 million over the life of the deal.

Importantly, players who sign a DPE are not eligible to be traded for one year after the contract has been signed. If the reports of an extension are true then Cousins, a subject of constant trade rumors, appears to be off the market. Although, the deal cannot be officially signed until July 1 so the Kings could still technically trade him before the league’s March 1 trade deadline. Cousins’ hypothetical new team, however, would not be able to offer him a DPE, capping any extension at 4-years and roughly $155 million.

Eric Griffith | GoBlazers87@gmail.com | @DeeringTornado

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