Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins says Kings treated him like cattle

[mktmaker]

The star center said he would have respected Sacramento if it had been upfront with him

by James Herbert
CBS Sports

The Pelicans can only offer a five-year, $180 million deal, which is about $30 million less than what the Kings could have offered. How much does the potential financial loss hurt?

It was never about the money. I don’t play this game for money. Anyone that knows me knows that I don’t play for the money. I had money before. I’m perfectly fine. To say it doesn’t help me would be a lie. Of course I want it. It wasn’t about the money. It never was.

I wanted my legacy to end in Sacramento. I invested so much time and energy. Everything I had, my whole heart was into that city. Just for it to end the way it did, that was the part that was f—-. But it was never about the money. I don’t give a s— about the money.

Have you spoken to anyone managementwise with the Kings?

Nope.

Should you?

For what? Honestly, Vivek tried to reach out. It was about two weeks later [after the trade]. I just told him, ‘Look, why are you reaching out to me two weeks later? There is no point. If you feel like you’re doing the right thing now, it just shows who you really are as an owner.’ That was my message back to him. And I haven’t spoken to him about it since.

…

But how would you have taken it if the Kings were up front about wanting to trade you?

Of course, I would’ve been mad. But I still would have respected it. Come to me like a man. I’m a human being at the end of the day. Don’t treat me like a f—ing piece of cattle.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/r...s-cousins-says-kings-treated-him-like-cattle/

 

[YourPublicEnemy]

Why would he want to rot away in Sacramento? He has been in the league since the 2010-2011 season and hasn't come close to even making the playoffs.

 

[CELTICAT]

Chattel not cattle, but I guess it's a moo point. It's like a cow's opinion, it doesn't matter.

 

[Rhavicc]

Hope he goes for 50 and 25 tonight.

 

[Cardsstink]

Why would he want to rot away in Sacramento? He has been in the league since the 2010-2011 season and hasn't come close to even making the playoffs.

He did a ton of charity work, work with kids, etc. in Sacramento. He liked the city and considered it home. He's a good dude.

 

[Rhavicc]

Why would he want to rot away in Sacramento? He has been in the league since the 2010-2011 season and hasn't come close to even making the playoffs.

The people. Boogie really did love the people of Sacramento, and he really did great things for them. A lot more of the tons of stuff that you can find in the media. There were a lot of times that he even asked for anonymity for his deeds because he didn't want publicity for them.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Diary]

I love Boogie but I will be honest, the salaries these guys get is insane. No player is worth that kind of money to play basketball.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Decent trade for both teams. Kings will get a lottery pick out of it, and Hield gives them a second lottery pick from the deal. If the Kings luck out and somehow get two top 9 picks, they'll be in a strong position to make an upward trajectory.

That said, I'd really prefer that they stop drafting UK guys at this point.

 

[Montana81]

Unless you're self employed, we're all numbers. It's just the way of the world.

 

[YouKay]

Man this makes my blood boil. And it worries me because I have seen reports that the Kings are looking hard at DeAaron Fox in this draft. And it makes me sad that Willie and Skal are stuck in that hellhole.

 

[MWes11]

I have never seen any cattle make $180 million dollars. I would trade being treated like cattle for that kind of salary.

 

[BlueRunner11]

I have never seen any cattle make $180 million dollars. I would trade being treated like cattle for that kind of salary.

Agree. Lmfao at such a dumb comment. These guys are so out of touch it's unreal and I do like Cousins btw but cmon get real.

 

[3rex]

Cry me a river...

Have yet to see any cattle walking around with millions in their bank account.

 

[JimBR]

Agree. Lmfao at such a dumb comment. These guys are so out of touch it's unreal and I do like Cousins btw but cmon get real.

It's possible he meant in the context of other teams not being able to offer as much as the Kings.

 

[RexShepcat]

The bad thing is that he plays against WCS tonight and maybe a little bit of Skal.

 

[katkraze]

These stars are tired of the nba plantation system, run by rich white owners---they will be demanding a lot more money and better benefits when their current union contract runs out---if not, they may strike.

 

[Pulaski Cat Fan]

Hell, I get treated like a piece of cattle for around 50 thousand a year.lol

 

[YaySports]

at least he didn't say they treated him like something else...

 

[BlueRunner11]

It's possible he meant in the context of other teams not being able to offer as much as the Kings.

I considered the various possible contexts before posting and still believe my above statement would apply to all.

 

[MWes11]

These stars are tired of the nba plantation system, run by rich white owners---they will be demanding a lot more money and better benefits when their current union contract runs out---if not, they may strike.

I hope the owners do hold out if this is the case. How much more do these players think they are worth? Plus all of the endorsement money they make. Give me a f*cking break, my goodness. They can't feed their families making 8 figures a year I guess.

 

[CELTICAT]

I hope the owners do hold out if this is the case. How much more do these players think they are worth? Plus all of the endorsement money they make. Give me a f*cking break, my goodness. They can't feed their families making 8 figures a year I guess.

I'm not sure about you, but I get paid based on the revenue I bring in to my organization. The NBA signed a 24 billion dollar tv deal, because advertisers will pay ABC more than that in sum to get spots during games. People watch NBA games because of players. So if the players bring in tens of billions of dollars, why shouldn't they get paid tens of millions of dollars?

 

[MWes11]

I'm not sure about you, but I get paid based on the revenue I bring in to my organization. The NBA signed a 24 billion dollar tv deal, because advertisers will pay ABC more than that in sum to get spots during games. People watch NBA games because of players. So if the players bring in tens of billions of dollars, why shouldn't they get paid tens of millions of dollars?

I get it. It is all relative. Fans show up to watch the players, not the owners. But since when do the employees think they should earn more than the business owners? Never heard of that before.

 

[YourPublicEnemy]

Agree. Lmfao at such a dumb comment. These guys are so out of touch it's unreal and I do like Cousins btw but cmon get real.

They have never had to work a real job. They have no clue.

 

[Blueaz]

I get it. It is all relative. Fans show up to watch the players, not the owners. But since when do the employees think they should earn more than the business owners? Never heard of that before.

You must not be a small business owner.

 

[dezyDeco]

I love Boogie. If he'd stayed longer, he would've given Kenny Sky Walker a run for my all-time favorite Cat. But it's hard to take these gazillion dollar sports guys, singers, and tv/movie stars complaining about being disrespected and saying they're treated like ____.

I guess I just can't relate.