Former Lakers and Houston Rockets center Demarcus Cousins. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Rockets are reportedly parting ways with center DeMarcus Cousins in the coming days. Here are thee playoff contenders who should sign him.
Prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, the Houston Rockets decided to create a bit of a Kentucky Wildcats reunion, as they signed DeMarcus Cousins and acquired John Wall from the Washington Wizards in the Russell Westbrook trade. For Kentucky basketball fans, they will be disappointed with this latest news.
Reports on Saturday indicate that the Rockets will part ways with Cousins in the coming days. The news comes a day after the team guaranteed his $2.3 million contract for the remainder of the season.
Cousins is no longer the dominant player he once was due to a variety of major injuries he picked up in the past couple of years. Yet, he is still a big name that many contending teams will look to add prior to the start of the playoffs. Here are the three postseason-bound teams that should sign the veteran center.
3.
Toronto Raptors
Eastern Conference Atlantic
If this past week proved anything, it is that the Toronto Raptors are in the market for a big man. The Raptors do have Pascal Siakam, Chris Boucher and Aron Baynes listed as centers on their depth chart, but that did not stop them from contacting a certain team for a huge veteran name.
This week, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Raptors have contacted the Cleveland Cavaliers about a potential trade for Andre Drummond. While that is all well and good, the issue that remains is Drummond is owed $28.7 million this season. That poses a serious problem for both teams.
If we are to take into consideration that this trade is to fall apart, the Raptors can sign a much cheaper options in Cousins. Sure, he is not coming off the greatest of seasons (9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25 games), but there is a possibility he can thrive with the Raptors.
Cousins should serve as an immediate contingency plan in case a potential Drummond trade falls through the cracks.