With Anthony Davis on his manner again to the lineup, the Los Angeles Lakers seem like out there for big-man depth as they make their playoff push. One potential possibility is former Laker and four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins bounced across the NBA after tearing his Achilles in 2018 whereas enjoying for the New Orleans Pelicans and later joined the Lakers, solely to tear his ACL shortly after signing.
Now, Cousins, who hasn’t performed this season, will work out with the Lakers. Whereas the percentages are that he might not assist the workforce a lot this season, they will afford to kick the tires now that they will signal gamers to 10-day contracts. Regardless of not being wherever close to the participant that he as soon as was, Cousins may nonetheless theoretically assist the workforce.
He may present Los Angeles with a bench scoring possibility, one who can rating within the publish and knock down the occasional three. He doesn’t provide a lot in the way in which of protection at this level in addition to some rim safety, however he has all the time been an efficient rebounder.
Signing Cousins may be an insurance coverage coverage for Davis, who has all the time struggled to remain wholesome for prolonged intervals of time. Having one other massive man in place who has loads of NBA expertise and may rating might maintain some attraction, simply in case Davis goes down once more or wants to sit down out a recreation attributable to load upkeep.
The Lakers are different choices.
Along with Cousins, the Lakers are understanding former Portland Path Blazers and Miami Warmth massive man Meyers Leonard. Leonard hasn’t performed within the NBA in a few seasons however remains to be simply 30 years previous.
Previous to his hiatus from the NBA, Leonard was generally known as an athletic stretch-five, although he struggled on the defensive finish. Nonetheless, his capturing capacity could also be sufficient to warrant the Lakers signing him to a 10-day contract and seeing if he can assist deal with their want for spacing.
Between Cousins and Leonard, Cousins remains to be seemingly essentially the most gifted possibility however can be older and have baggage given his recognized perspective points. Nonetheless, which may be behind him if he’s keen to work out with the Lakers only for the chance to signal a 10-day contract.
However, regardless of some baggage of his personal, Leonard may beat out Cousins given that he’s youthful and has confirmed to be a greater 3-point shooter over his profession. Both manner, whether or not the Lakers select Cousins or Leonard, they seemingly gained’t earn constant minutes as a result of middle Thomas Bryant has stepped up in an enormous manner within the absence of Davis.
Bryant has averaged 17.4 factors and 10.8 rebounds in his final 10 video games and 13 factors and seven.3 rebounds in solely 22 minutes per recreation total this season. With Davis coming again quickly and Bryant enjoying effectively, the Lakers ought to be effective at middle, however they might all the time afford extra depth on the place given Davis’ observe file.
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