Just as the All-Star Game was wrapping up, rumors began to swirl that DeMarcus Cousins would be traded. The Kings’ on-again, off-again commitment to their star was off-again, and just as he sat down for post-game media availability, he found out he would be staying in New Orleans:

https://twitter.com/manny_vieites/status/833546633715576835

The Kings gave up Cousins and Omri Casspi for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway (set to be waived), the Pels’ top-3 (reportedly) protected 2017 pick, and a 2017 2nd (originally from the Sixers). It’s not even close to equal value.

Reportedly, a similar package – minus Hield – was being offered for Jahlil Okafor.

The deal all but guarantees that the Kings will get a first round pick this year in addition to the Pelicans’ pick. They were set to lose their pick to the Bulls if it fell from 11-30, but without Cousins, they should be sufficiently bad enough to be well within the top 10. Which means the Sixers’ pick swap with the Kings will likely trigger, all thanks to the O.G. Vivek and Vlade head-scratcher. Sam Hinkie eat your heart out:

Whether Boogie and Anthony Davis can work next to each other doesn’t matter right now. The Kings pick currently sits at #11, but they’re only 3.5 games out of the #4 spot, which is one better than where the Sixers currently sit.

There is reason to believe a Kings team with Hield and Evans rather than Boogie and Casspi is going to be a lot worse than the one they’ve trotted out all year. With Cousins on the court this year, the team is posting a -2.3 net rating. Without him, it drops to -7.1 (the worst off-court net on the team). And with each game they lose, the Sixers inch closer and closer to lottery safety.

Look at it this way, if the Kings go into a complete free fall – which seems likely – the Sixers can win as many games as they want and still not have to worry at all about lottery odds. And with the Lakers, whose first round pick the Sixers will get if it’s outside the top 3, currently on the fringe of their protection limit, two top-5 picks just became much more likely for the Sixers.

The Sixers also own the Kings’ unprotected 2019 first rounder, which could be truly invaluable now.