Rockets are letting DeMarcus Cousins go after guaranteeing his contract
By John Buhler
DeMarcus Cousins and the Houston Rockets are expected to part ways in the coming days.
Only 25 games into his Houston Rockets tenure, and former All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins looks to be on the move again. He is averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 20.2 minutes per contest in Houston.
According to Stadium and The Athletic’s Shams Charania, “The Houston Rockets and center DeMarcus Cousins are planning to part ways in coming days. . .Houston wants to go smaller, younger in frontcourt when Christian Wood returns and this allows Cousins to find an opportunity elsewhere.”
The Rockets guaranteed Cousins’ contract the day before this news broke, which means they’re on the hook for paying him regardless of where he signs and when.
DeMarcus Cousins might be bought out and head back to the Los Angeles Lakers
Because the Rockets guaranteed his contract yesterday, this makes it even harder for them to move in him in a trade. Yes, they can still do it, but Cousins is no longer the All-Star-level player he was in his prime with the Sacramento Kings. One place he is being linked to already is his previous club in the Los Angeles Lakers, a team he won an NBA title with without playing a game for them.
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Cousins tore his ACL during training camp ahead of the 2019-20 NBA season, so his year was over before it even began. Leg injuries have ripped away his once undeniable prime. So with the Rockets looking to part ways with Cousins, whether that is through a trade or an outright release, keep an eye on him potentially going back to the Lakers to play out the rest of this season.
If Boogie and the Rockets do have to break up, at least let him go back to the Lakers, please.