THE Sacramento Kings The Cardinals had gone 16 straight seasons without making the playoffs, but selecting soon-to-be All-Star great DeMarcus Cousins ​​with the fifth overall pick in 2010 gave fans hope of better things to come.

After six seasons with Cousins ​​leading the franchise without having to whistle the playoffs, the Kings decided to cut ties and trade him. The 2017 blockbuster sent Cousins ​​to the The New Orleans PelicansBut did the trade pay off? Here’s a look at where each major element of the trade stands today:

New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousin

January 6, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins ​​(0) reacts during the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports/Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Cousins ​​made four All-Star appearances, three with Sacramento and one with New Orleans, and established himself as one of the league’s best big men. After the Kings traded him, Cousins ​​decided to join the Brewers dynasty Golden State Warriorsbut that’s where his career would take off.

After just 30 career games with the Warriors, Cousins ​​ruptured his Achilles tendon, sidelining him for nearly a year.

Since his serious injury, Cousins ​​has spent time with the Houston Rockets, The Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee BucksAnd Denver Nuggetshaving played only 119 games since the 2018-19 season.

Cousins ​​had the potential to become one of the best big men in the league if not for unfortunate injuries, but he is now out of the NBA and moving around to teams overseas.

Sacramento Kings goalie Buddy Hiel

January 7, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (24) reacts in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Hield was the most significant return for the Kings in this blockbuster. After a successful rookie season in New Orleans, they sent him to Sacramento where he found a solid home.

In six seasons with the Kings, Hield averaged 16.9 points and shot 40.2 percent from three-point range. As one of the league’s best shooters, Hield was a valuable asset wherever he went.

After a few good years in Sacramento, Hield was involved in another major blockbuster, where the Kings sent him to the Indiana Pacers alongside Tyrese Haliburton. That 2022 deal netted the Kings Domantas Sabonis, who has emerged as one of the NBA’s best big men.

Unfortunately for Hield’s legacy in Sacramento, the talented shooting guard made himself look like a villain to Kings fans after making it clear he had something against the franchise.

Hield continued to shine as a three-point threat in Indiana, but the Pacers decided to trade him to the The Philadelphia 76ers before last season’s trade deadline. Hield’s production declined last season, but this offseason’s trade sent him to the Warriors, where the presence of Steph Curry could certainly elevate Hield’s play.

Sacramento Kings goalie Tyreke Evan

March 22, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (32) reacts during the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Golden 1 Center. The Bucks defeated the Kings 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports / Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

After being selected fourth overall in 2009, Tyreke Evans won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first King to win the award since Phil Ford in 1979. Evans spent four seasons in Sacramento to begin his career, but his production strangely declined with each season.

Evans was sent to the Pelicans in the 2013 offseason via a sign-and-trade, where he spent three and a half years before being sent back to Sacramento in the Cousins ​​trade.

Evans played just 14 games in his second stint with the Kings before signing with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2017 offseason. Evans most recently played with the Indiana Pacers during the 2018–19 season, but has been off all NBA rosters since.

The former top-five pick was banned from the NBA in 2019 for violating the terms of its drug program, but was reinstated in February 2022. Evans is unlikely to return to the league, but has more recently spent time overseas resuming his basketball career.

No piece of the 2017 blockbuster remains with the Kings or Pelicans, as the trade ultimately did little good for either franchise. The other pieces — Omri Casspi, Langston Galloway, a 2017 first-round pick and a 2017 second-round pick — had little impact on either franchise.

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