DeMarcus Cousins is heading to a new team; he told Marc Spears that he has agreed to a one-year contract with the Houston Rockets.
Big man DeMarcus Cousins found a new team. He confirmed to Marc Spears that he has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Houston Rockets.
The LA Lakers waived Cousins in February after a season plagued by injuries, meaning he never actually played a game for the franchise. He was in the middle of recovering from a torn ACL when the team decided to release him to make room for Markieff Morris.
Cousins mentioned that he appreciated the opportunity provided by the Lakers and is eager to move forward with his career.
After signing a one-year deal with the Lakers, Cousins suffered a torn ACL during a workout in August 2019; he was working toward a comeback until the team waived him.
During the February All-Star break, Lakers coach Frank Vogel indicated that Cousins was making steady progress and was expected to be ready for the playoffs.
The recovery window was further extended when the regular season and playoffs were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, giving Cousins extra time to heal before the league moved into the Orlando bubble.
Despite the extra time, he remained sidelined for the entire 2019-20 campaign. Given his recent health struggles, he is expected to come off the bench as he gets back up to speed with his new teammates.
Cousins' recent years have been a struggle; he suffered a ruptured Achilles while with the New Orleans Pelicans in January 2018, and later tore his left quadriceps during the 2019 playoffs while playing for the Golden State Warriors.
At 30 years old, it's unlikely he will return to his absolute peak, though his pedigree is undeniable. Since being drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2010, he earned four All-Star nods and was selected twice for the All-NBA team.
Cousins is capable of handling the ball on the perimeter, but if James Harden remains with the Rockets, Cousins will likely be used to create space for the team's shooters. Regardless, his presence should provide the Rockets with some much-needed stability in the frontcourt.
Last season, the Houston Rockets operated with a very small lineup and lacked a true center, often relying on PJ Tucker to handle the heavy lifting inside.
With a career 35.9% three-point percentage during his time in New Orleans, Cousins can be a difficult matchup for opposing bigs. If he can stay healthy, he will be a significant asset for the Rockets.