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The Portland Trail Blazers discussed the possibility of acquiring DeMarcus Cousins through a sign-and-trade, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN. However, Cousins sharing the same agent with Jusuf Nurkic created a “road block” in talks that never came to fruition:
ESPN Sources: Portland and New Orleans had discussed the possibility of a sign-and-trade for DeMarcus Cousins, but a road block existed since he shares the same agent as RFA Jusuf Nurkic.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 3, 2018
Cousins made headlines by signing with the Golden State Warriors Monday evening. Nurkic is a restricted free agent.
Nurkic averaged 14.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in 79 appearances for the Blazers last season. Cousins averaged 25.2 and 12.9 for the New Orleans Pelicans over 48 games. He was sidelined by a torn Achilles midway through the season and at last report will not be ready to return when the 2018-19 campaign begins.
Update:
Though interpreting player emoji tweets is dicey business, Nurkic appears to have responded to the report:
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) July 3, 2018
Update:
Marc Spears of The Undefeated talked to Cousins after his signing, and the big man revealed he had “no significant contract offers” when free agency started:
Golden State Warriors newcomer DeMarcus Cousins told ESPN's The Undefeated that he had no significant contract offers when free agency arrived, but had already mentally prepared himself for possible disappointment due to his recovery from his Achilles' tendon injury. Cousins...
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 3, 2018