DeMarcus Cousins of the Houston Rockets looks on ahead of the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 15, 2021. /CFP
The Houston Rockets and their center DeMarcus Cousins are planning to part ways soon, reported Shams Charania of The Athletic on Saturday.
Having averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25 games this season, Cousins, who came back from multiple career-destroying injuries, "has showed he's healthy and impactful this season," according to Charania.
The Rockets had two of their recent games postponed because of the Texas storm. Before that they already suffered seven straight losses, all without Christian Wood who was dropping on average 22 points and 10.2 rebounds before spraining his right ankle two weeks ago.
Christian Wood #35 of the Houston Rockets shoots in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., February 4, 2021. /CFP
Sports Illustrated (SI) believes that the Rockets are trying to rebuild their franchise younger and smaller, which fits 25-year-old Wood but not 30-year-old Cousins.
However, there are still multiple teams interested in landing Cousins, especially when he only makes $2.3 million a year. His torn left Achilles, quadriceps and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruined Cousins' athleticism, but not his size or shooting. With a 2.11-meter-tall height and 122-kilogram weight, Cousins is still able to fill the paint. He's a good rebounder and an underestimated stealer. He could bury 1.6 triples at a 3-point rate of 33.6 percent per game, not a deadeye shooter but can stretch the floor.
DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Houston Rockets defends Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers in the game at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 17, 2021. /CFP
The Lakers could use all of the above. There's no telling when Anthony Davis will come back and Dennis Schroder is at least two games from returning because of the NBA's COVID-19 protocols. The purple and gold are desperate to find help for 36-year-old LeBron James before he wears him out in the regular season which still has 41 games left for the Lakers.
The Nets don't need Cousins to do much on offense but a big guy like him can definitely help them defensively for tussling with Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the low post among other things. The only problem for both teams is that neither has much assets left after their all-in trades for Davis and James Harden.