Several recognizable names will be looking to return to the NBA during the week-long transactions window that begins Tuesday, but the most intriguing is former All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins signed a one-year deal with the Lakers last summer to add some veteran depth to the frontcourt. However, he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during preseason and was never able to suit up in L.A. He was waived in February to open a roster spot for Markieff Morris, but continued to rehab the knee at the team’s training facility and has maintained a good relationship with the organization.
Both sides reportedly have interest in a new contract next season, but the Lakers may have some competition if they want to bring him to Orlando. Former Kentucky teammate John Wall said this week, “I want to sign him right now” to help the Wizards with their playoff push. Center has been a position of need in Washington all season, and although Cousins’ mobility on defense is in question after three straight injury-ravaged seasons, he could be another potent weapon in the Wizards’ offense.
John Hollinger of The Athletic identifies three other teams where Cousins could be a good fit: the Celtics, the Spurs, who won’t have LaMarcus Aldridge in Orlando because of shoulder surgery, and the Mavericks, who have an opening for a big man with Dwight Powell sidelined with a torn Achilles.
Cousins, who’s only 29, obviously isn’t the player he was before the injuries hit, but he proved last year with Golden State that he can still be effective. He averaged 16.3 PPG in 30 regular-season games before settling for a reduced role in the playoffs.
We want to get your opinion on Cousins. Which team do you think will provide him the best opportunity, or do you believe he should continue rehabbing and wait for next season? Please leave your responses in the space below.
I’d like to see Boogie sign with Charlotte in the offseason. He can take a 1 or 2 year deal and rebuild his value on a team desperately needing front court talent. Hornets could move him for assets if they aren’t a playoff team. Should have more money to give him than most teams.
Why would he want to join a re building team in Charlotte?
They have no big name star players, no chance of winning a ring or even making the play offs.
Charlotte isn’t absent of talent. They need more frontcourt help, and some more shooting. Boogie would help them improve. I think alone, he pushes them to a fringe playoff contender in the East.
The important thing to remember though is Boogie is only 29. He could play 2 years on a rebuilding squad, and then still go be a veteran ring chaser if things don’t workout. Charlotte is also in a stronger position with the cap than most of these other teams.
I’d love to see him in Charlotte, too. That’d be what I want.
What I believe will happen is a return to the Lakers. I could see Washington as a darkhorse candidate for his services, but Wall has been pushing for that for awhile. The FO there just doesn’t seem as enthusiastic about the idea for whatever reason.
That sounds similar to what Dwight Howard did in 2017-2018. He stayed healthy with Charlotte and rebuilt his stock with a solid 16/12 line
I assume the Lakers can sign him for the resumed season. Unlike in normal circumstances when you can’t bring back a player you released that year.
Lakers, but he should only play if necessary.
If Dwight decides to sit things out, then it would become necessary.
Check out the big brains on Brad!
Spurs and Wiz need him the most, but I don’t see him wanting to sign with a team that has a minimal chance of getting in.
Houston would be interesting based on their complete lack of size currently. I expect the Lakers will be interested again. Wonder if Boston would be interested?
If Boogie could still play at a level anything close to what he did in New Orleans, then he’d be an absolutely perfect fit for Houston.
Although he was still pretty good last season with the Warriors in limited playing time. But there aren’t any better options out there to play a stretch 5 than Boogie, assuming of course that he’s healthy.
He’s too tall for the rockets.
He’s the same height as Capela, so I guess he probably is.
Clippers actually make alot of sense as well.
Boogie or Noah, let me think about that ?
Honestly, he should just chill, continue to rehab and lose some weight for next season at this point.
How much depth do they really need? There are only going to be 8 games before the playoffs begin. What’s the point of them adding more pieces to an already complicated puzzle? They already have Kawhi, George, Sweet Lou, Harrell, Beverley, Shamet, Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, Zubac, and JaMychal Green making up their 10-man rotation. Then they still have Patterson and McGruder. So there’s no real need for them to add anyone unless it’s a mentor role like Noah.
Depends on what you mean by best opportunity.
Best opportunity for playing time would be either the Spurs or the Wizards
Best opportunity for future employment would probably be the Wizards. It never hurts to have the long-term signed face of the franchise on your side.
Best opportunity for a championship would be the usual suspects at the top of the heap.
I’d go with the Wizards, but only Boogie truly knows how good he feels or how much longer he can go. If he really feels like the injuries might be catching up with him, maybe going for the ring now might not be a bad thing.
Considering Boogie will never be the player he once was I don’t think he wants to settle for a team that won’t make the playoffs. He’s going to want the chance of playoffs and winning rings.
He’s not going to care for 30+ minutes per night and putting up 25:10:4:5 stat lines anymore he’s just going to want to do well as a contributor on a winning team.
He’s also probably going to want to play with star players which suit him and his personality. He left the kings cause they sucked and had no stars to move to New Orleans and play with AD. He joined GSW to help his value but also to win games and play with stars. Then he signed to play with LA in the biggest city with the biggest name in LeBron and again AD.
I think being born in Alabama and having home to Kentucky he might want to settle for something closer to home. Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Washington, Memphis, Atlanta and Indiana would all be teams closer to home for him.
Personally I think Houston makes sense where he can play with Harden and Russ. They have a hole at centre and he could easily play 20/25 minutes per night which would suit their style. He’s also someone to help rebound and defend while still playing their shooting style. Plus they make the playoffs and could possibly win a ring.
Washington would make sense if he wants to team up with his former college teammate John Wall. They also have Bradley Beal and in the slightly easier Eastern Conference he could make them a playoff team.
If not either of these teams he stays with LA who kept him on contract through his injury and has the big city and big stars that Boogie likes.
Just play with wall and beal..
I find it really weird that Wall is lobbying for people to play for the Wizards when he, a healthy player on the wizards, isn’t playing
I would like to see DMC signing up with the LAL, so he can get back to some playing & would win the ring that he so deserves!
How does he deserve a ring? I’m a big time Boogie fan, and I would like to see him win one, but he doesn’t deserve a ring just because.
The last Cousins played, the other team went after him on D.
He may not get offers, plus, he may not want to take a risk. There will likely be a place for him on the Lakers. Howard will probably leave at some point, maybe soon.
The real dark horse team to sign Boogie now is the Heat.
Was ready to with them before AD talked him into the Lakers.
Betting Riley could make room for him on the roster.
He could make the Heat a real title contender now.
Waive/Stretch Hill and sign Boogie to rest of season at the MLE rate.
Heat make no sense, they already have Bam who can go low block and Kelly O who can step out to the 3 point line.
Heat actually make alot of sense for Boogie.
He can plug and play with any of the Heat’s big men. Even as a bench option, Boogie and Olynik are a pretty formidable duo. With Leonard and Bam as starters.
Rockets Wizards or Lakers for Boogie
He shouldn’t play at all. Needs to get healthy and focus on next yr. At 29 he still has a chance at one more nice contract. Like posters said. He probably needs to sign one yr. Build his value and go from there. I would not risk it. He’s had too many setbacks.
“Cousins, who’s only 29, obviously isn’t the player he was before the injuries hit, but he proved last year with Golden State that he can still be effective”
They said the same thing about Dwight Howard. He’ll be a beast next year with lakers.