“DeMarcus is untradeable & a guy who we want to build around” Divac on DeMarcus Cousins

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) May 19, 2015

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Just talked to Vlade Divac on @SiriusXMNBA He said George Karl “might have overstepped his bounds” saying no player is untradeable #Kings — Justin Termine (@TermineRadio) May 19, 2015

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Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.

Well, no one is REALLY untradeable except for maybe Kevin Durant and LeBron James. But the DeMarcus Cousins rumors are pretty silly in my opinion.

He’s only 24, he under contract for 3 more years at $16, $17, & $18 million, and all he did this past season was basically put up 24 and 13 with a PER over 25. Unless he specifically demands a trade and refuses to play, the Kings really have to make things work with him… and there’s no evidence that he’s opposed to that.

There’s no doubt his attitude is an issue. His, let’s say “passion,” gets the best of him way too often. But at his level of production, I’m willing to go back on my previous “I don’t want that prick on my team” stance. I don’t care that he’s a prick. Put him on my team and let’s figure it out.

Unfortunately, at least for Boston, there’s no chance they have the types of assets to change Sacramento’s mind. They’ll want a stud player in return in some kind of “disgruntled stars changing scenery” thing… and the Celtics don’t have a player of his caliber to give up.

Page 2: How the lottery might have helped the Celtics

The Celtics stand to collect the 2016 first-round pick of the 2015 lottery-winning Minnesota Timberwolves if next year’s pick lands outside the top 12. Boston will cross its fingers that Minnesota, with help from this year’s No. 1 overall selection, can compete for a playoff spot this season and deliver that pick — otherwise it becomes a pair of future second-round picks.

It wasn’t all good news for Boston fans, who watched the rival Los Angeles Lakers vault to the No. 2 spot. The Celtics can take some solace in the fact that Los Angeles’ leap pushed two Atlantic Division rivals — thePhiladelphia 76ers(No. 3) and New York Knicks (No. 4) — a bit lower in the draft (and Los Angeles would have sent its pick to Philadelphia if it landed outside the top 5).

ESPN Boston: How the lottery impacts the Celtics

It’s a stretch to think the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to go from the worst team in the NBA to an 8th seed out West because they’re adding Towns or Okafor. But hey, we’re here, it’s still May, there’s all sorts of hope and promise afoot, so let’s just roll with that and say it’s possible.

If they do crack the playoffs, the Celtics get a mid-first round pick next year. Personally, I’m happy Philadelphia didn’t walk away with three lottery picks. That would have been too much to handle.

And yes, I’m actively rooting for the Sixers’ plan to fail miserably and for them to never get out of the lottery.

As for our rivals, the Lakers, they got the second pick in the draft, which prompted an utter lack of self-awareness from La La Land.

The agony subsided after many, many months of it. Something finally went right for the Lakers after their worst season ever.

Ohhh FINALLY! FINALLY!! Woe is the Lakers after having a bad year in the Kobe Bryant era. Boo effing hoo you dramatic assholes. You rebuild like the rest of us. Now go screw up your draft and suffer in mediocrity for a while just to learn a lesson in bad luck.

How can they screw up the draft?  I don’t know. It seems like Okafor’s the guy if Towns is gone, but they might try to fill their point guard need with Emmanuel Mudiay instead at 3. He’s a projected top 5 pick, and I know people who’ll rave about him because they see things like this:

The kid’s got skills, no doubt. But he’s 19 and that’s China… where Lester Hudson and Von Wafer averaged more than 30 points per game this past season. 

Let that sink in just a second.

I don’t know what Mudiay is going to become. He might be the best point guard since Magic. But if you’re coming at me with “look at what he did in China” as your proof, then turn right around and go sit down in the corner. China is where guys who can’t cut it in the NBA go to look like Gods.  It’s possible that this kid could come to the NBA and make the leap… but it’s just as possible he’s got 15 years of Chinese league highlight reels on YouTube ahead of him. We can only hope it’s the latter after the Lakers select him.

Related links: CSNNE: Blakely mock 3.0

And Finally…

Ho hum… just another ridiculous Steph Curry shot in a clutch situation

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I don’t know how he keeps doing it… I’m just glad he does (H/T PBT)

The rest of the links:

WEEI: The Kosta Koufos question: Will the Celtics pursue second tier free agents  |  MassLive: Calipari squashes rumor of interest in Pelicans job  |  CSNWashington: WWE legend Jim Ross calls Pierce’s game 3 buzzer beater