Entering 2018 NBA free agency fresh off of a torn Achilles tendon, let’s examine the most likely landing spots for DeMarcus Cousins.
The 2018 NBA free agency period begins on July 1, and we have some major superstars that could be wearing new jerseys next season. Paul George, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and of course LeBron James will receive attention from multiple teams offering big money contracts.
Perhaps the most interesting free agent this NBA offseason is DeMarcus Cousins. A four-time All-Star, Cousins is one of the most dynamic big men in the league. Throughout his career, Cousins has been a double-double machine, averaging 20.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Under the direction of Alvin Gentry, he became a better facilitator, averaging a career high 5.4 assists per game.
Cousins will be seeking a max contract, but teams will be cautious. He tore his Achilles tendon in January in a win against the Houston Rockets. Tearing an Achilles is the toughest injury an NBA player can recover from. The list of players who suffered the same injury, and never returned to the player they were before, is eye-opening. Perhaps Cousins will recover like Dominique Wilkins, and be just as dominant as he was pre-injury. However, the odds are stacked against him at age 27.
It’s unlikely he will be ready to play at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, but teams will still be highly interested in his services. Let’s take a look at the five potential landing spots for DeMarcus Cousins.