Report: DeMarcus Cousins, Lakers agree to 1-year deal
After an Achilles injury cost him a chance at a long-term payday last summer, DeMarcus Cousins has reportedly agreed to terms on a 1-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The deal is going to be worth $3.5 million.
Cousins' one-year deal with the Lakers is $3.5M. https://t.co/nXaFChoG3C
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Cousins is coming off an injury-shortened stint with the Golden State Warriors after suffering the Achilles tear in 2018 as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans.
In the midst of his sixth straight All-Star campaign in 2017-18, Cousins was in line to sign a max contract last summer before the injury derailed those plans.
Cousins instead settled for a one-year, $5.3 million deal with Warriors that came with a chance to win a championship and prove himself on the court after suffering an injury that has historically derailed NBA careers.
He sat out the first half of the season before returning to play 30 games in the regular season. He averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in limited playing time in a crowded lineup. He started all 30 regular-season games he played in while averaging 25.7 minutes per game.
Unfortunately for Cousins, he did not win a championship nor allay his health questions. He suffered a quad injury in the first round of the playoffs on a non-contact play and did not return until the NBA Finals, where he was effective at times and a non-factor at others.
At his best, Cousins displayed his deft touch around the rim and unique ability to handle and pass the ball in the post. At his worst, he lumbered up and down the court and was a defensive liability.
Cousins flashed some of signs of his old self, but did little to quell concerns about his ability to return to All-Star form. Coming off an Achilles tear, his limited court time wasn’t a good gauge of how he’s recovered.
With Cousins approaching 29 years old and two years since he suffered the Achilles tear, next season will provide a more accurate gauge of what kind of player he’ll be moving forward.
Rajon Rondo to sign two-year deal with Lakers
Rajon Rondo agreed to a two-year, $2.6 million deal to return the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday as well, according to Wojnarowski.
Rondo averaged 9.2 points and eight assists in 46 games for the Lakers last season, his first with the franchise. He missed 36 games due to multiple hand injuries and a brief suspension after the Lakers’ home opener against the Rockets. The 33-year-old still put up his best numbers since the 2015-16 season — which he spent with the Sacramento Kings — despite his limited court time.
The four-time All-Star’s return to Los Angeles will mark the first time since 2015 he has spent back-to-back years with the same team. Rondo, after a more than eight-season stint with the Boston Celtics, has played for five different teams in the past five years.
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