The Rockets have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran center DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins, as first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Financial terms weren’t immediately known, but with Houston limited by a hard salary cap, it’s likely to be a relatively small figure.
Cousins, who has previously played for Sacramento, New Orleans, and Golden State over his extended career. is likely to initially slot in with the Rockets as the primary backup to newcomer Christian Wood.
Now 30 years old, the 6-foot-10, 270-pound center made the Western Conference All-Star team in every season from 2015 through 2018. A powerful and agile big man, Cousins has averaged 21.2 (46.1% FG) and 10.9 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game over his nine NBA seasons.
Cousins is signing a new deal with the Rockets, sources said. https://t.co/LUCaKrWwcj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 23, 2020
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 Wood in place, the Rockets are confident in their starter at center and can ease Cousins back after a long layoff. And if he proves worthy of more minutes than expected, that’s a good problem to have.
Cousins, like Christian Wood, can and will shoot threes. He took over 6 triples a game in his final season with New Orleans, hitting 35.4%. Solid FT shooter. He's a load offensively. Concerns will be health and willingness to play complementary role.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) November 23, 2020
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” prove worthy of additional minutes. Both Wood and Cousins have shown an ability to hit 3-pointers, so the floor would still be spaced.
Per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Cousins worked out for the team on Monday and impressed the Rockets, “quelling any health concerns.”
Training camp for the 2020-21 season opens next Tuesday, Dec. 1.
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Yahoo Sources: Former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins worked out for the Houston Rockets today and impressed the organization, quelling any health concerns. He’s as hungry as ever.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 23, 2020