NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for DeMarcus Cousins

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Toronto Raptors in the second half during Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 13, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

6 of 6

NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 19: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans and DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans speak during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Lakers

This makes too much sense not to happen, doesn’t it?

It’s still unclear exactly how much cap space the Los Angeles Lakers will have this summer once the Anthony Davis trade becomes official. If they change the parameters of the deal, they could clear out roughly $32.5 million, but they’d otherwise be limited to $23.7 million if Davis refuses to waive his trade kicker.

Either way, they should have more than enough money to reunite Cousins and Davis, who played alongside one another in New Orleans for parts of the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons before the former’s Achilles tear prematurely ended the partnership.

In November, Davis expressed interest in teaming back up with Cousins, telling Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated: “He will be a free agent next year. Hopefully, down the line, we can reconnect.” Meanwhile, Cousins told Shams Charania of The Athletic: “I think about our pairing all the time. Me and AD talk about it. It’s f–ked up. It could’ve been something great, something special.”

Davis might not be the only Lakers player who wants to team up with Cousins this summer. Last July, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported LeBron James was likewise “interested by the idea of playing with Boogie,” who he called “the best big man in our game” back in January 2017.

If the Lakers want to spare Davis from playing the 5 full time, Cousins may be amenable to teaming back up with his Pelicans Bash Brother on a reasonable short-term contract. Cousins might be the Lakers’ best chance to get a third star-caliber player without shelling out almost all of their cap space to do so.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Basketball Insiders.

Follow @btoporek

Home/NBA