With DeMarcus Cousins extending his All-Star stay in New Orleans following his trade to the Pelicans, the Sacramento Kings have entered a new era.
The three-time All-Star led the Kings for six seasons after being drafted No. 5 overall in 2010, but Boogie never managed to bring them on a single playoff run. The Kings decided to move on, and the vacant minutes and extra cash have granted the team room to grow.
Cousins’ absence has opened up the door for the Kings’ younger players to develop — perhaps more so for 23-year-old Willie Cauley-Stein than anyone else.