DeMarcus Cousins is likely to return to New Orleans

DeMarcus Cousins suffered a ruptured Achilles that cost him most of the 2017-18 season. It also might have cost him a lot of money.

There are a handful of elite free agents in this summer’s free agent class. LeBron James, Paul George and Chris Paul are among the big names that will be coveted when free agency opens.

There’s one guy you may have forgotten was a free agent: DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins, who spent the 2017-18 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, is one of the big-name free agents on the market.

Cousins could also be one of the first guys off the free agent board. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Cousins is “very likely” to resign with the New Orleans Pelicans. Cousins already stated during the regular season he’d be open to re-signing with the Pelicans, and now it looks like he will.

The only unfortunate part for Cousins is that it seems any kind of deal he signs will most likely be a two-year deal. Wojnarowski also noted that Cousins was on his way to a five-year max contract had he not gotten hurt.

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Cousins is only five months removed from rupturing his Achilles so you can understand the Pelicans’ reservations about giving him a max contract. Before the injury, he and Anthony Davis were probably the best pair of big men in the NBA. Davis at one point during the season went as far as to say they could have made the Finals had Cousins not gotten hurt.

With Cousins in all likelihood returning to New Orleans, we’ll see if Davis still feels the same way about they title chances. This is a win-win situation on both sides. The Pelicans avoid any kind of major financial investment into Cousins, and he gets to rebuild his value and re-enter free agency before he turns 30.