DeMarcus Cousins, Houston Rockets will part ways.
The news of DeMarcus Cousins and the Houston Rockets deciding to part ways comes from Shams Charania of The Athletic, with Shams stating that the team is looking to “go smaller, younger in the frontcourt when Christian Wood returns.”
With the Rockets losing James Harden in a massive trade with the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the season, it seems the team’s championship window has indeed been shut. This move will allow Cousins to search for a place on a team that is ready to contend and needs a big man.
While far from his All-Star level of play due to injuries suffered in prior seasons, Cousins still provides a valuable source of defensive and offensive play for any team looking for a capable big man to further their championship aspirations.
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Across 25 games this season, Cousins has averaged a respectable 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest. While they are not the most amazing numbers, Cousins provides valuable services for any team that would wish to acquire him.
Cousins still has the ability to play some great basketball, as evident in spurts of play from the big man during the season. In a game against the Dallas Mavericks in late January, Cousins proved himself and his doubters wrong by having a dominant game where he notched 28 points and 17 rebounds.
In comments after the game, Cousins expressed his doubts about ever having a dominant game again:
"“It’s just proof that the work is working,” Cousins said. “The work, the time, the effort, those days I didn’t want to get up and do it, the days I thought I was wasting, my time, the dog days I thought it was over for me — all of those thoughts at some point flashed in my mind. I would be lying if I didn’t have those moments, but just continue to believe in myself.”"
Cousins has bounced across teams since leaving the Sacramento Kings and suffering from a torn ACL. He has had stints with the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the past four years.
It will also be interesting to see how the Rockets and Wall relationship continues, considering the star guard holds a good relationship with Cousins, and the two were excited to play with each other.
No matter what happens there, what is clear is that Cousins will now be looking for a new home once again, as the Rockets look towards the future with their young talent.