Cousins returns to Kings, insists he wants to stay

• He is reinstated from suspension and practices with team Monday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – DeMarcus Cousins strolled into a local Wal-Mart here late Sunday night, the Sacramento Kings big man standing out amid the holiday rush as closing time neared.

This was before Cousins returned from an indefinite suspension and practiced with the team on Monday, his first time with teammates since his blowup with coach Keith Smart at halftime of Friday's game against the Clippers.

Cousins stopped in the aisles of the department store to take pictures with fans, offering a hearty smile for the folks who didn't mention his latest incident or the absence that ensued in that night's win against Portland after the Kings suspended him.

This was the other side of the 22-year-old Cousins, who just two days before had yelled so aggressively and profanely at Smart in the Staples Center locker room that his bosses told him to go home until they invited him back.

The Kings, who had seen his sinister side all too often in recent weeks, made it clear that they were done with his nonsense and negativity. And once word spread a day later that Cousins fired the only agent he had ever had, John Greig, and hired a powerful new one, Dan Fegan, who just months ago was helping Dwight Howard force his way out of Orlando and who has had a problematic past with Kings general manager Geoff Petrie, the natural next question was whether this was a precursor to Cousins demanding a trade.

Even though Cousins has shared his frustrations about the Kings organization privately so many times before, he insisted a trade demand wasn't on the horizon. It's still not a season to be jolly about, but Cousins said he wants to be in Sacramento.

"I want to be in Sacramento," he told USA TODAY Sports.

Asked if he wanted to be in Sacramento for the long term and if he could see himself wanting to sign another contract with the team either this summer (by way of an extension) or when his rookie deal expires after next season and he would become a restricted free agent, Cousins paused for some three seconds before answering.

"I want to be in Sacramento," he repeated. "The possibility does exist. It's a possibility."

As is stands, of course, the Kings are trying to decide whether they even want him around anymore. A person with knowledge of the team's plans said Saturday that Cousins was not considered "untouchable" in terms of a possible trade, though it's believed that the Kings are merely listening to offers at this point as opposed to openly shopping the player they drafted fifth overall out of Kentucky in 2010.

As talented as Cousins clearly is, the early assessment of his value around the league – at least at the moment – is that it's on the serious decline. Teams known to have significant interest in Cousins in the past were Detroit, Houston, and Denver, though even the most ardent fans of his game have admitted his latest incident would cause concern. Because no one in the Kings organization has been a bigger supporter of Cousins than Smart, his decision to treat his coach in such a disrespectful way marked a new low for the player whose career has been marred by incidents such as these.

Before the Kings can worry about the Feb. 21 trade deadline, they first must decide when to allow Cousins to return to the team. There are indications Cousins could rejoin the team as early as the Monday practice and possibly play in a Wednesday game at Portland, though that's not for certain. Cousins, who is averaging 16.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game this season, will have to convince Kings officials that he is contrite in order to rejoin the team.

Cousins said he spoke with Smart on Sunday, and he also is expected to address his teammates about the situation before being allowed back. He said after Friday's game that he had apologized to his teammates for the incident that he "was wrong."

The Kings had been strongly advising the volatile Cousins to begin seeing a mental health counselor, but a person with knowledge of the situation said he refused to do so. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the matter.

Meanwhile, the Kings – who had lost six of their last seven games when they fell to the Clippers on Friday – downed the Trail Blazers 108-96 on Sunday night and talked afterward about the complications that come with Cousins.

"It's hard," veteran Kings forward and fellow Kentucky product Chuck Hayes said. "We've always got that one family member who always does their own thing…and you don't always agree with their ways. But you still love them, and they're still family.

"Not so much of a crazy uncle, just that uncle that just kind of (makes you) raise your eyebrows, like 'Why did he do that?' But he's still family here. We still have him here. We're not writing him off. It's just every now and then a family member needs some discipline, needs to be told what to do, and that's what's happening. When he's ready to come back, we'd love to have him."

Veteran swingman John Salmons also expressed optimism that the situation with Cousins could improve.

"It's one of those love-conquers-all type of things," Salmons said. "You've got to stay the course with him. He's still a teammate, still part of the family, and you've got to continue to support him…(But) the organization has a right to do what they did."

Second-year guard Jimmer Fredette also offered his support.

"The coaching staff, GM, Geoff (Petrie) and those guys will deal with it, and we just worry about playing basketball and getting better every day," Fredette said. "Obviously he's our teammate. We want him to come back strong, and we want the best for him, want the best for this team, so we want to continue to support him as a basketball player and as a person. That's what teammates do."

Cousins' battles with former coach Paul Westphal as a rookie eventually led to his firing seven games into last season, and this marks the third time Cousins has been disciplined this season.

A postgame discussion with San Antonio Spurs broadcaster Sean Elliott on Nov. 9 led to a two-game suspension from the NBA after he confronted the former player about statements made during the telecast. And on Dec. 11, he was suspended one game by the NBA for hitting Dallas' OJ Mayo in the groin in the Kings' game against the Mavericks on Dec. 10.