After guaranteeing contract, Rockets to part ways with DeMarcus Cousins

Mark Berman: “The Rockets guaranteed his salary because management appreciates his professionalism and how he went about his business.”

One day after fully guaranteeing his contract for the 2020-21 season, the Houston Rockets are working to part ways with veteran center DeMarcus Cousins, according to multiple media reports on Saturday. He will either be traded or released, per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston.

“The Rockets guaranteed his salary because management appreciates his professionalism and how he went about his business,” Berman wrote. “The Rockets want to do right by free agents they sign.”

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Houston wants to go smaller and younger in its frontcourt once Christian Wood returns from injury, which is expected to occur within the next week to 10 days. However, Cousins could remain with the Rockets for a bit longer, since there’s a clear need to fill minutes with Wood on the sidelines. According to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen, Cousins is still expected to start for the Rockets in their next game on Monday night versus Chicago.

Among other tidbits from Feigen’s story:

The Rockets have made it clear that they would work with Cousins to be traded to a team that would work better for him, even if it brings little in return. …

Though Cousins has been productive, it has been a difficult fit with the Rockets wanting him to be a stretch five and play fast, styles that do not suit him well. The defensive fit has also been poor, with Cousins needing to work in more traditional drop coverages, as opposed to the variety of switching or trapping defenses played with Wood or with the small lineups with P.J. Tucker or Jae’Sean Tate at center.

The status of Houston’s surrounding roster may also be playing a role. When the Rockets agreed to sign the 30-year-old last November, they were still hoping to move forward with superstar guard James Harden and aiming to contend in the NBA’s 2020-21 season.

Now, in late February, Harden is gone and the Rockets (11-17) are on a seven-game skid — which makes evaluating younger players more of a priority, since Houston is no longer in immediate title contention.

Cousins missed most of the last two seasons with a series of severe leg injuries, which is why he was forced to settle for a non-guaranteed contract in the 2020 offseason. But while his athleticism clearly isn’t what it was in his four All-Star seasons, he has shown durability in 2020-21, playing in 25 of Houston’s 28 total games. Overall, Cousins is averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game. The 6-foot-10 big man has also become a valued leader in Houston’s locker room.

Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer and Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat are among teams that could have interest in Cousins, either via trade or as a free agent. If the Rockets are able to trade Cousins, it would likely be for a very small return, given his age and limited value. Moreover, as a gesture of good faith, they would certainly allow Cousins to have input on his next stop.

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