With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving signing in Brooklyn, NBA fans and executives are now waiting to see where Kawhi Leonard ends up.
After missing out on D’Angelo Russell, the Timberwolves have rounded out their roster by acquiring role players like Jake Layman, Noah Vonleh, Jordan Bell, Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham.
One bigger name that’s still out there is Demarcus Cousins. The three-time All-Star will turn 29 in August but has been battling injuries. He’s played in just 78 games combined the past two seasons in New Orleans and Golden State.
After Cousins tore his Achilles in January 2018, he came back for 38 games – including the playoffs – last season with the Warriors and it appears teams are reluctant to give him big money.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported there’s no market for him.
“I think he thought, he hoped big-market teams would strike out that have cap space, he could get a one-year, $12, 15, 18, 20 million deal. That’s not happening. I don’t even know if there’s a mid-level exception he got in Golden State last year. I don’t think that’s there for him.”
As free agency wears on, and if he indeed doesn’t get the contract he wants, he could possibly sign a league-minimum deal and Minnesota should at least consider it.
Cousins has played nine seasons, so he’d earn $2.3 million, according to this year’s NBA minimum salaries.
If you’re looking at his career numbers, he’s obviously impressive. In nine seasons, he’s averaged 21 points per game on 46 percent shooting, while hitting 32 percent of his 3-pointers. He’s also averaged 10.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
Those are pretty solid numbers for someone who plays the five. In his 30 regular-season games last season, he put up 16 points on 48 percent shooting. Again, solid numbers, but he had a difficult time staying on the court and was a non-factor in the playoffs.
Currently there’s been no connection between the Wolves and Cousins. Darren Wolfson of KSTP reported he hasn’t heard anything and Cousins might not be worth the risk for head coach Ryan Saunders.
Nothing yet. But FA is fluid. But also not sure Saunders being put in that spot is worth it.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 2, 2019
However, if Cousins can return to the player he used to be, it would be a massive reward for any team that signs him.
For a fan base that was frustrated after missing out on Russell, Cousins could stir up some excitement at Target Center.
