It’s been a pair of whirlwind seasons for DeMarcus Cousins. After spending one year with the Golden State Warriors in 2018-19, the All-Star center signed with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the Kentucky product will not get a chance to suit up in the Lakers classic gold and purple uniforms.
Cousins suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the offseason and has been out every game this year — now his time in Los Angeles appears to be over before it started.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the Lakers are waiving Cousins to create an open roster spot.
Lakers are waiving DeMarcus Cousins, league sources tell @Ramonashelburne and me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 22, 2020
The Lakers are planning to sign Markieff Morris after he goes through a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Markieff Morris plans to sign with Lakers, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 21, 2020
Cousins has been hampered with a bevy of serious injuries since he ruptured his Achilles in 2018 as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. Cousins then suffered a torn left quadriceps with Golden State in the first round of the 2019 playoffs.
Cousins played 30 games with Golden State averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game. Cousins registered a double-double in 10 games for Golden State, scoring a season-high 28 points and grabbing 13 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets. Cousins flashed, but injuries limited his chance of returning to his full All-Star caliber form.
“Boogie,” only 29-years-old plans to continue rehabbing his ACL injury into the offseason, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Yahoo Sources: DeMarcus Cousins was informed yesterday by the Lakers that he would be waived. He plans to continue rehabbing ACL injury into the offseason.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 22, 2020
Once healthy, the four-time All-Star could be an entertaining name in the 2020 free-agent market.