Reports: Veteran center DeMarcus Cousins agrees with Rockets on one-year deal
The Houston Rockets have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran center DeMarcus Cousins, according to reports. Financial terms weren't immediately known, but with Houston limited by a hard salary cap, it is likely to be a relatively small figure. The Athletic was first to report the deal.
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 6-10, 270-pound center made the Western Conference All-Star team each year from 2015 to 2018. A powerful and agile big man, Cousins has averaged 21.2 points on 46.1% shooting with 10.9 rebounds in 32 minutes per game over nine NBA seasons.
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Yet, Cousins was available for a limited investment due to continued bad luck with injuries. He tore his left Achilles tendon 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 left 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 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.
At 6-10 and roughly 220 pounds, Wood, 25, is 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.
Per 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 week on Dec. 1.