New Orleans acquires DeMarcus Cousins from the Kings

Sacramento Kings forward/center DeMarcus Cousins has been traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, per Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.

What It Means:

The Pelicans are expected to give up Tyreke Evans, Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway, a future first-round pick and a second-round pick in the deal, which puts Cousins next to Anthony Davis in what is now an All-Star frontcourt in New Orleans. Look for Cousins to see his usage rate decline, though he will likely see an uptick in efficiency with a better team around him.

Cousins has had a terrific season so far, averaging 27.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals and a 1.3 blocks per game, while his 5.4 nERD ranks 23rd in the NBA. After the trade, our models project the Pelicans for a shade over two additional wins on the season, while it also boosts their chances of making the playoffs by about 10 percent.