by Vince Ellis, USA TODAY Sports

DETROIT — With the Sacramento Kings making their yearly visit to The Palace of Auburn Hills on Tuesday, memories of the Detroit Pistons’ efforts to acquire center DeMarcus Cousins will return.

The Pistons were transparent before the 2010 NBA draft about wanting to move from the seventh spot to get in position to select the talented big man out of Kentucky.

But the Kings selected Cousins with the fifth pick and the Pistons ended up with Georgetown center Greg Monroe.

So after Cousins’ latest dustup with the Kings (a one-game suspension after a halftime verbal altercation with coach Keith Smart), it wasn’t surprising to see reports saying the Kings were willing to entertain offers for the mercurial big man.

And it wasn’t surprising to see over the weekend an ESPN report saying the Pistons and Celtics were “highly interested” in dealing for Cousins.

I can’t speak on the Celtics, but I’ve reached out to Pistons’ brass in the past few days and let’s just say a lot has changed since June 2010.

But let’s just entertain the thought the Pistons MIGHT be interested in Cousins. The Kings would be laughed out of the league if they agreed to any deal that didn’t include Monroe or rookie center Andre Drummond.

And let’s get this out of the way — the Pistons aren’t the least bit interested in dealing away Monroe or Drummond. Drummond is untouchable and Monroe is at the level just below.

A source e-mailed me with this Sunday night: “We have two, young big men — they’re ‘Pistons.’ “

When the Pistons coveted Cousins, they had arguably the least talented frontcourt in the league. Not so anymore.

But it’s more than the talent of Monroe and Drummond. The debate rages as to whom is the better player between Monroe and Cousins.

Statistically, they are similar and Monroe got the better of Cousins in their past two meetings.

But while Cousins is coming off his third suspension of the season, Monroe has been a model citizen going on three seasons — even during a rookie season rife with turmoil and player-coach confrontations under ex-Pistons coach John Kuester. Since that season, and … [For more on Detroit Pistons not as high on Cousins as in 2010, click here.]