DeMarcus Cousins' talent makes him intriguing; maturity issues, weight could keep NBA teams away

DeMarcus Cousins' talent makes him intriguing; maturity issues, weight could keep NBA teams away

Editor’s note: In the 10 days leading up to the 2010 NBA draft, Detroit Pistons beat writer Chris Iott is highlighting the top prospects in the draft along with several players the Pistons are likely to be considering with the No. 7 pick. Today: DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky.

Some basketball experts would argue that DeMarcus Cousins is the type of player who could bring a general manager a championship.

Others would say he is the type of person that could bring a GM a pink slip.

It is difficult to find a bigger wild card among the top 10 picks in the June 24 NBA draft than Cousins, who is believed by many to be the best player available in the draft -- even better than former Kentucky teammate and consensus No. 1 pick John Wall.

But his maturity has been questioned for some time. Then Cousins showed up at the pre-draft camp in Chicago last month claiming to be in the best shape of his life and weighed in north of 290 pounds with 16.4 percent body fat.

According to DraftExpress.com, just 11 players have been measured with a higher percentage of body fat in the past 20 years of the pre-draft camp.

Reports say Cousins had a spectacular workout for the Sacramento Kings last week and also had his body fat down to 13 percent. That’s a step in the right direction, for sure.

His numbers -– 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game -- as a freshman are impressive but become even more so when you look at another number: He put up those stats while playing just 23.5 minutes per game.

His tremendous upside has some pegging him as a potential top-three pick, while others have suggested he could fall all the way to the Pistons at No. 7.

Chances are slim Cousins could fall far enough for the Pistons to pick him.

He is simply too talented to get past six other teams. But what if he did? What if the teams in the second through sixth slots decide his issues outweigh his ability?

Or what if the Pistons move up in the draft and into the fourth or fifth spot?

If that happens, expect Joe Dumars to make the pick, celebrate his good fortune and hope for the best. Dumars also should do his best to re-sign Ben Wallace and then rent Cousins a room in Wallace’s house.

Big Ben could be a big help in making sure Cousins keeps growing up. And keeps slimming down.

DeMARCUS COUSINS

* Height: 6-11
* Weight: 290
* Age: 19
* Position: Power forward
* College: Kentucky
* 2009-10 stats: 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds per game
* NBADraft.net player comparison: Eddy Curry/Benoit Benjamin
* Draft projection: Cousins is likely to go fifth or sixth.
* A Pistons pick? No matter what the negative buzz is, it still seems unlikely Cousins falls to No. 7. Could the Pistons trade up to get him? Sure. The latest chatter -- the Pistons’ pick at No. 7 and Tayshaun Prince to Sacramento for the fifth pick and Andres Nocioni -- makes as much sense as any rumor out there.