As the NBA trade deadline inches closer, the entire basketball world is wondering what will happen with Paul George and DeMarcus Cousins.
But per Shams Chanaria of The Vertical, the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans are not looking to move their star players at all. And regardless of what assets other teams may have — the Brooklyn Nets pick that the Cleveland Cavaliers got in exchange for Kyrie Irving, for example — those two teams aren't expected to budge.
Nevertheless, the superstar talent of Oklahoma City’s Paul George or New Orleans’ DeMarcus Cousins, each deserving of that Nets first-rounder, won’t see the light in this trade market as of right now, league sources said, as those teams are fully focused on winning with each respective player.
Both George and Cousins have been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers in one way or another. But with the Thunder and Pelicans coming out and saying those players won't be available, teams like the Lakers and others will have to wait until the summer if they want a chance to get ahold of either star.
At this point, it would behoove both the Thunder and Pelicans to see what the rest of the season holds for George and Cousins. George is finally starting to figure things out in Oklahoma City, and there's still a chance that Cousins learns to play with Anthony Davis in New Orleans. It's the right decision for both teams to stand pat.
The only thing that would prompt a shift from this thinking is if, for some reason, one of those players tells their respective team that there is no chance they will re-sign with the franchise. Then you have to look to move them and get the best deal possible.
Right now, it doesn't look like that will happen.
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