DeMarcus Cousins isn’t going to Disney World — not yet, anyway.
Cousins’ agent, Jeff Schwartz, told the Los Angeles Times that his client — who hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in August — hasn’t ruled out signing with a team for the NBA’s restart in Orlando, though if he signed, it would be to play and not to rehab. That runs counter to a report from The Athletic which said multiple interested teams were told Cousins will not come back this season and continue rehabbing for 2020-21, which would give the big man an extra four months to recover from his latest setback.
Cousins, 29, was waived by the Lakers on Feb. 23, having never played a game for the team, which signed him to a one-year, $3.5 million deal last summer.
It was less than three years ago that Cousins was set to sign a max deal, averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.6 steals for the Pelicans. Then, he tore his left Achilles and had to settle for a one year, $5.3 million deal with the two-time defending champion Warriors, allowing him to build his value back up and likely earn a ring.
After being sidelined for a year, Cousins played in 30 games with the Warriors, averaging 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in 25.7 minutes. However, he missed most of the playoff run after tearing his left quadriceps, returning in a limited role in the NBA Finals loss to the Raptors.
Beginning Tuesday, teams have a one-week window to sign free agents.