DALLAS _ At midday Wednesday, DeMarcus Cousins was all smiles after Sacramento's shootaround at American Airlines Center.
He coyly fielded a question a question from The Dallas Morning News about the Mavericks' rumored interest in acquiring him by saying, "I'm flattered" and of the Mavericks, "I respect them."
He even lifted his practice jersey, briefly showed off his hard-tattooed abs and declared himself a sex symbol. "I'm going to start wearing [half] shirts like Ezekiel Elliott," he added.
By night's end, after Sacramento pulled away in the second half to beat Dallas 120-89, Cousins had displayed many other attributes that would make the Mavericks and many other NBA teams covet him.
Though briefly flummoxed by first-half double-teams, Cousins finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.
"He's as big of a matchup problem at the center position as I've seen in some time," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Just because now he effectively shoots 3s, he's a beast on the inside, he can shoot midrange and he's a great passer. And he's an unselfish player."
Now, how can the Mavericks, who fell to 4-17 with the loss, go about acquiring a player with the immense talent of the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Cousins?
Cousins in many ways represents the goal, and the sizeable challenge the Mavericks face in the coming months. Dallas' terrible start and increasing odds that it will draft high next June has fans and media scouring college basketball for the next great Mav.
But what if we are looking at Dallas' awfulness in the wrong context? What if that high pick never plays a game in a Mavericks uniform? What if, instead, he is packaged to help acquire an elite player?
If the latter scenario plays out, it cannot occur until next June. NBA salary cap rules limit teams' ability to trade first-round picks in successive seasons. Since the Mavericks traded their 2016 first-round pick to Boston in the Rajon Rondo deal, the earliest they can trade their 2017 first-round pick is on draft night, after selecting him.
Cousins, 26, is in the next-to-last season of his contract. He earns $16.9 million this season and is scheduled to make $18 million next season.
The Kings (8-13) and Mavericks entered Wednesday's game 11th and 15th, respectively, in the Western Conference. But if both franchises remain out of the playoff picture as the February trade deadline nears, it's hard to imagine the Mavericks having enough commodities to make a deal for Cousins.
Their best hope is that the Kings hold on to Cousins through the end of this season. Or until the end of 2018, when he becomes a free agent.
Either way, expect the Mavericks to be near the front of the line at the first whiff that Sacramento might be willing to deal Cousins. By the way, Cousins has long expressed that he likes playing in Sacramento.
"No," he corrected Wednesday. "I love Sacramento."
How can we be so certain of the Mavericks' interest in Cousins? Because sources say the Mavericks have inquired of his availability in the past.
We also know that the Mavericks philosophically believe that adding a physically imposing center is a key _ if not the key _ step toward returning to the NBA's elite. We know this from their failed attempts to land big-fish free agents Dwight Howard (2013), DeAndre Jordan (2015) and Hassan Whiteside (2016).
Howard and Jordan, not incidentally, were represented by Cousins' agent, Dan Fegan, who has a strong working relationship with the Mavericks.
If you're doubting the strength of that relationship after Dallas' failed attempts to sign Howard and Jordan, look no further than Frisco for a clue: On the roster of the D-League Texas Legends is 6-11, 255-pound Jaleel Cousins, DeMarcus' 23-year-old brother.
Unfortunately, the Legends are on a road trip that had them playing in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Monday and on Friday in Idaho. Otherwise, the Cousins brothers would have had a nice in-season reunion because the Kings have been in Dallas for the past three days.
"It would have been nice to kick it with my brother," DeMarcus said. "We haven't seen each other since the summer."
The two speak on the phone several times a week, however. And when the Kings return to play the Mavericks on Dec. 18, Jaleel and the Legends will be at home.
"I think he loves it here," DeMarcus said. "He's grateful for his opportunity so far. He's working hard. He's enjoying the process. He's enjoying gaining knowledge of the game. He has a goal in mind right now. He's trying to make it to this level."
DeMarcus starred in his only season at Kentucky and was the No. 5 overall pick of the 2010 draft. Jaleel played at Navarro College from 2012 to 2014 and at South Florida from 2014 to 2016.
Jaleel went undrafted but joined the Mavericks for the 2016 Summer League. On Oct. 17, he signed with the Mavericks, but it was a formality in order to make him Legends property when the Mavericks waived him five days later.
Does big brother offer little brother pro basketball advice?
"Jaleel's a very independent person," DeMarcus said. "He likes to learn things on his own. He wants to go through the trials and tribulations. He wants to go through that fire. You've got to respect guys like that. That's just the way Jaleel is."
As a committed member of the Kings with a stated love for Sacramento, DeMarcus understandably has no desire to talk at length about the prospect of some day playing for the Mavericks _ and in the same organization as his brother.
But when I asked DeMarcus if he believes Jaleel is in a good situation, his answer sounded like good news for fans who like the idea of the Mavericks acquiring DeMarcus.
"Absolutely," DeMarcus said. "It's the Mavericks. It's one of the best franchises in the league. [Owner Mark] Cuban's a great guy. Rick's a great guy. He's under some good people. I'm confident in the franchise, and I'm confident in his abilities, as well. I think it's a good situation for him."
