NBA Trade Rumors and DeMarcus Cousins: NJ Nets Need to Make a Move Now

The New Jersey Nets are an interesting team.

In the 2009-10 season, the Nets had a total of just 12 wins. They brought in a new coach who had a winning percentage around .640 before being chosen to lead them.

In May 2010, they were bought by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. Prokhorov has been determined to do whatever it takes to make the Nets an elite team in the NBA.

They have a solid, young star center in Brook Lopez and one of the best players in the whole league in point guard Deron Williams.

They are moving out of New Jersey and into Brooklyn next season.

The Nets have the interest of another top player in the league, Dwight Howard.

All of these things have translated into minimal success.

Once the lockout this offseason ended, trade speculations of the Nets acquiring Dwight Howard heated up. It seemed as if Howard would start the season calling New Jersey his home. However, as the year changes to 2012, Dwight Howard is still on the Magic, and the Nets are still struggling.

The trade between the Magic and Nets took a huge blow when Brook Lopez got injured and would miss significant time. Lopez was the centerpiece of the trade offer for the Nets to the Magic.

The Nets won the first game of the season but have lost every game since then, as they currently have a record of 1-5.

The Nets have to ask themselves several questions if they continue to struggle. What can we do to start winning? Is Deron Williams really going to stay? Will Dwight Howard still call the Nets his preferred team? Will Dwight Howard make us an elite team? 

The Nets have to start winning if they want to make the venture to Brooklyn successful. The Nets feel that Dwight Howard will put them in position to be a top team in the Eastern Conference, however they are still missing many key pieces.

While a basketball team can be carried by one or two star players more than other sports, it is still a team sport that requires important role players. The Nets are far from being a complete team even with Dwight Howard, and Lopez's injury may require the Nets to give up their lone bright spot this season, MarShon Brooks.

All that being said, in order to fill out a team, the Nets have to build a foundation with two star players. It will also help if they could keep MarShon Brooks on the team. Going out and making a move may give the Nets another player to trade for Howard and allow them to keep their rookie.

The Nets have to start winning, especially if they want to get Dwight Howard. This means they can no longer sit around and wait for Lopez to get back or the Magic to put Howard back on the trading block.

The Nets have to go out and make a significant move. Some recent reports have said that Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is requesting a trade. Billy King should not hesitate to try and make Cousins a Net.

Having Cousins will help fill the void that Lopez's injury has left. Mehmet Okur and Johan Petro have both been basically non-factors. Also, if the Nets decide to package Lopez and Cousins together to trade to Orlando, they will have the best offer. DeMarcus Cousins is a perfect fit right now for the New Jersey Nets.

The Nets are struggling to get consistent scoring. They have a top-of-the-line point guard in Deron Williams, a good scoring rookie in MarShon Brooks and a solid power forward in Kris Humphries.

They are struggling at the center and small forward position. DeMarcus Cousins would immediately improve the Nets scoring-wise at the center position.

The Nets need to start winning basketball games, and in order to do that they have to make a move outside their organization. They have to act fast on DeMarcus Cousins and get him to New Jersey, because he will help them win games and get Dwight Howard.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1007776-demarcus-cousins-the-nj-nets-need-to-make-a-move-now

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