HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –The agent for Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins met with team president Geoff Petrie on Monday to discuss his new client’s volatile situation, USA TODAY Sports has learned.

Yet despite the fact that Cousins has claimed during his most frustrated times that he wants out and that rival teams continue to attempt to pry the talented third-year big man away from the Kings, his agent, Dan Fegan, did not make a trade request during his meeting with Petrie. The Kings, in turn, reiterated their stance that they have no intention of trading Cousins even if he wanted a new start elsewhere.

Even with the frequent complications that have come with Cousins and his suspension for yelling at Kings coach Keith Smart that lasted two games and was ended by ownership on Dec. 28, the Kings have been consistent in their stance that they still want Cousins to be their franchise centerpiece. According to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of trade talks, the Kings continue to make it clear that both Cousins and second-year guard Jimmer Fredette are not available.

While Fegan and Petrie have had a contentious relationship, in large part, because of past dealings relating point guard Ricky Rubio before he went to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a person with knowledge of the meeting said it was productive and professional. Cousins’ decision to part ways with the only agent he had ever worked with, John Greig, and hire Fegan was revealed shortly after he was suspended on Dec. 23. Because of Fegan’s recent history as the agent who applied so much pressure on Orlando to trade his biggest client, Lakers center Dwight Howard, last year, Cousins’ decision was seen by some as a clear sign that he wanted out.

For now, it appears the Cousins situation will not turn out the same way because – unlike Howard – he’s not demanding a trade. Should Cousins change his stance before the deadline, however, the Kings would be under significant pressure to considering … [For more on DeMarcus Cousins' agent meets with Kings management, click here.]