Agent: Cousins isn't getting traded

DeMarcus Cousins' agent Jarinn Akana told The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski that his client is not being traded. The news came shortly after trade rumors broke regarding the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.

"We met with (Kings GM Vlade Divac) and ownership and they assured us and DeMarcus that he's not being traded," Wojnarowski quoted Akana as saying. "As far as we're concerned, nothing has changed."

The trade rumor came as a surprise given that all recent indications have trended towards Cousins likely signing a contract extension with the Kings. "It's where I want to be," the three-time All-Star said of Sacramento last week.

The other factor at play, however, is with the NBA trade deadline looming Thursday, silly season is upon the league in terms of rumors. Unless the Pelicans were considering dealing away Anthony Davis or the Kings were willing to make a terrible trade, it is abundantly clear that New Orleans doesn't currently have the assets to make a deal for a top-15 talent like Cousins.

The Pelicans, desperate to get Davis some help, have made inquiries on multiple players including Cousins and Paul George, according to ESPN's Justin Verrier. The Pelicans beat writer also reports that the team has made everyone on the roster outside of Davis available in an effort to land another top-line talent.

Whether they succeed in that endeavor before Thursday remains to be seen. The most attractive trade pieces they have are Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans, although Evans has again been hampered by injuries this season. They are also reportedly trying to trade Omer Asik, generally believed to possess the worst current contract in the NBA.