Demarcus Cousins, Houston Rockets. (Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas deflects the Demarcus Cousins situation as merely rumors and nothing more.
A day after rumors first surfaced over the Houston Rockets potentially parting ways with Demarcus Cousins, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas responded by saying they are “just rumors at this point.” Should we believe him, though?
Silas said Cousins did not finish practice on Sunday due to a foot issue. Cousins is averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 20.2 minutes per contest in his first season with the Rockets. He missed all of last season after tearing his ACL when he was a member with the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries have certainly robbed the former NBA All-Star of his illustrious prime.
Is Demarcus Cousins going to play for the Houston Rockets any more or not?
You have to feel for Silas in his first season as an NBA head coach. He might be the son of NBA lifer Paul Silas, but he has worked diligently for the last 20 years as an assistant to get this opportunity. Too bad the Rockets have been a dysfunctional mess the entire time he has been there. The Cousins situation is the latest drama surrounding the Houston team this NBA season.
While Silas may believe Cousins is part of the Rockets’ plans going forward, new general manager Rafael Stone could just release him like everybody is expecting Houston to do. What is even weirder in all of this is the Rockets fully guaranteed Cousins’ contract only a day before the rumors of his release even surfaced. As they say, leaks only get out if somebody wants them to get out.
For now, Cousins is still a member of the Rockets, but he may not be for all that much longer.