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Matt Barnes not a fan of how Kings treated DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins

Matt Barnes and DeMarcus Cousins started the season as teammates on the Sacramento Kings. Cousins’ trade to the New Orleans Pelicans pretty much ended Barnes’ tenure in California’s capital city, as he was waived to make room for the haul Sacramento received for Cousins.

Now a member of the Golden State Warriors, Barnes himself has some choice words about how the Kings’ brass treated his former teammate in Sacramento.

“It was a tough situation for all of us,” Barnes told ESPN on Friday. “They were so adamant about not trading him. I mean, I understand this is a business and you got to do what’s best for the franchise, but when you go out of your way time and time again to say you’re not going to do something and then do something and not consulting someone is a funny way of handling it, to say the least.”

This pretty much mirrors what Cousins himself told ESPN shortly after his trade from Sacramento.

“Nah. For what?,” Cousins said back in February when asked he we would talk to Kings brass in the future. “It was a coward move, so I’m pretty sure I will get a coward response. For what? And I’ve seen this happen before. I’ve been there through all same types.  I was there with [coach] Mike Malone’s [firing]. I’ve seen how they operate. I know what kind of answer I will get anyway. So, what is the point?”

Cousins had previously indicated that Kings general manager Vlade Divac came to his house in the week leading up to the trade to ensure the center that he wouldn’t be traded.

Things might not be all roses for Cousins in New Orleans. After all, he’s already been suspended once and fined $50,000 by the NBA since joining the Pelicans.

Even then, leave it to the Kings to help Cousins look good throughout this entire process. If Barnes’ comments tell us anything, it’s that those close to the situation side with the All-Star center over the organization he was jettisoned from.

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