NBA’s free agency period has gotten off to a wild start, but All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins remains unsigned.
Cousins, one year removed from a torn Achilles, hoped he would sign a long-term deal this offseason. He played for the mid-level exception with the Golden State Warriors in 2018-19.
But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Cousins could be looking at another short-term, low-money contract.
“There’s not a market for him, Scott,” Woj told Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter. “I think he thought, or he hoped, some big-market teams would strike out, they’d have cap space, and he could get a 1-year, $12, $15, $18 or $20 million deal. That’s not happening. The mid-level exception he got in Golden State last year, I don’t think that’s there.”
Cousins played in 30 regular-season games for the Warriors, managing 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest. He suffered a torn quad in the first round of the playoffs, but was able to return for the NBA Finals.
His impact on the Finals was mixed. He passed the ball and provided good offense for the Warriors, but he struggled to defend the pick-and-roll — a must for centers in the modern game.
Still, Cousins is only 28 years old and had made the All-Star Game in six consecutive seasons prior to his injury.
It’s possible a slightly bigger market will materialize for Cousins after Kawhi Leonard makes his decision. The Lakers and Clippers have slowed down the market while they await Leonard’s decision, and either of those teams could use Cousins in some fashion — especially the Lakers if he comes at a bargain price.
For his career, Cousins averages 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.