Los Angeles Lakers: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018

5. DeMarcus Cousins

Of all the players capable of signing for max money this offseason, DeMarcus Cousins is the one who might miss out on a significant payday.

While Cousins was off to a hot start to the 2017-18 season, averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, his season was cut short in January after tearing his Achilles.

When free agency officially opens and teams start to spend top dollar, Boogie might find himself on the outside looking in. His current team, the New Orleans Pelicans, might be reluctant to sign him to a long-term max contract. Other teams with cap space might be wary of signing him to a longer deal. Interested teams will likely offer him a short-term deal so they can assess his return from the Achilles injury.

Aside from the Lakers and Pelicans, Cousins has been linked to the Dallas Mavericks. However, Marc Stein of The New York Times recently reported that Dallas is trying to trade for Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, which would negate any interest in Cousins.

If DMC is forced to agree to a one- or two-year contract and the Lakers miss out on their other top targets, they could capitalize on signing an immense talent at a discounted rate.