DeMarcus Cousins worked out for Rockets, quelled health concerns

“DeMarcus Cousins worked out and impressed the organization, quelling any health concerns,” Chris Haynes said. “He’s as hungry as ever.”

Prior to signing a non-guaranteed contract with the Houston Rockets for one season, DeMarcus Cousins worked out for the team on Monday.

Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, that workout in Houston “impressed the organization, quelling any health concerns.”

“He’s as hungry as ever,” Haynes tweeted of Cousins, who has previously played for Sacramento, New Orleans, and Golden State.

Health is the clear storyline to watch with Cousins. Now 30 years old, the 6-foot-10, 270-pound center made the Western Conference All-Star team in four straight years from 2015 through 2018. A powerful yet agile big man, Cousins has averaged 21.2 points (46.1% FG) and 10.9 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game over his nine NBA seasons.

Yet, Cousins was available for a limited investment due to continued bad luck with injuries. He tore his Achilles midway through the 2017-18 season, which also cut short his availability for the ensuing 2018-19 year. Then, after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers in July 2019, he tore the ACL in his knee during offseason workouts and missed all of 2019-20.

Cousins is believed to be healthy now and ready for the 2020-21 season, but it remains to be seen how much of his prior form that he will be able to recapture after the series of brutal leg injuries.

From Houston’s perspective, though, it’s a low-risk, high-reward transaction. With newcomer Christian Wood set to start at center, Cousins can begin the 2020-21 season — assuming he makes the roster out of training camp, of course — with limited backup minutes, allowing the four-time All-Star to ease his way back in. And if Cousins proves worthy of more minutes than expected, that’s a good “problem” to have.

At 6-foot-10 and roughly 220 pounds, Wood is certainly athletic enough to play at power forward in larger lineups alongside Cousins, should “Boogie” earn those additional minutes. Both Wood and Cousins have shown an ability to hit 3-pointers, so the floor would still be spaced.

Training camp for the 2020-21 season opens next Tuesday, Dec. 1.

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