The Rockets agreed to terms with veteran center DeMarcus Cousins in the latest move in the team’s attempts to retool its front-court this offseason. The agreement is a one-year contract at the veteran’s minimum.
Cousins was once considered the most dangerous low-post scorer in the league while with the Sacramento Kings. From the 2010 season through 2015, Cousins averaged 20.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game with the Kings. He then ruptured an Achilles tendon in February 2018 while playing for the Pelicans. At the time, the 27-year-old was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
Cousins then signed with the Golden State Warriors the following summer, at just the midlevel exception, but missed the majority of the next season while rehabbing. He averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 30 games with the Warriors before a torn quadriceps caused him to miss the postseason.
Cousins then missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee which he incurred after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
He now comes to a Rockets team where presumably he would slot in behind newly acquired Christian Wood at backup center. Last season’s starting center, P.J. Tucker, would slide over to power forward in a starting lineup that is expected to also include Danuel House, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook. Harden and Westbrook both recently made trade requests to the Houston front office.
Wood was acquired at the start of free agency, agreeing to a three-year, $41 million contract.
The acquisitions of Wood and Cousins, both 6’10, signal a shift in philosophy on the part of the Rockets organization. Last season, Houston famously traded away starting center Clint Capela at the trade deadline for forward Robert Covington, starting a lineup with no player over 6’7. Covington was traded away to Portland earlier in the month and backup center Jeff Green, also 6’7, left in free agency to Brooklyn.
While Wood and Cousins both have traditional size, their skillsets will allow for the Rockets to keep the floor spaced for 48 minutes and even run some of the same offensive schemes as last season if they so choose. Wood shot over 40% on 3s last season after being thrust into the starting lineup while with Detroit. Cousins shot 35% in his last full season in 2017-2018. He shot 38% on 5.6 attempts per game in 17 games with the Pelicans in 2016-2017 while playing next to Anthony Davis.
If healthy, Cousins would also give Houston a legitimate low-post threat, something the franchise has not had since Donatas Motiejunas, or even Yao Ming. Presumably, new head coach Stephen Silas would be more receptive to the idea of mixing in new wrinkles into the offense than former head coach Mike D’Antoni had been.
It remains to be seen what Cousins has left in the tank after the devastating injuries he has suffered. The Rockets would be wise to not have high expectations. If he can stay healthy and provide even fifteen minutes per game, it would be a boon for the team.