Los Angeles Lakers: 5 potential targets in 2019 NBA free agency

1. DeMarcus Cousins

Before you go rolling your eyes on this choice, I ask that you hear me out. No, DeMarcus Cousins didn’t play a full season with the Golden State Warriors due to working his way back from a torn Achilles.

In those 30 appearances though, he compiled averages of 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest on 48 percent shooting from the field.

Although he missed 45 days with a quad injury that was supposed to keep him out for the remainder of the postseason, Cousins managed to return to the lineup in time for the NBA Finals.

No, Cousins’ production wasn’t on par with what he had done during the regular season (8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest), but the counterargument to that is despite missing more than six weeks, he did reach double figures in three of the six games against the Toronto Raptors.

Prior to going down with the Achilles injury while he was a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, DMC averaged at least 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest in each of the last five seasons.

This includes an abbreviated 2017-18 campaign in which he put up 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per outing in 48 games with the Pels.

Not only is he a load to deal with around the rim, Cousins is also a capable outside shooter as well. In fact, prior to 2018-19, he shot at least 35 percent from long range from 2016 through 2018.

Overall, Cousins is a player who can score from all three levels; is a decent defender and is a good pairing with AD as was evidenced during their time together in New Orleans.

From a financial standpoint, being that Cousins’ 30-game season in the Bay Area may not have been enough to garner significant offers from other ball clubs, he may be willing to play on another one-year deal to prove his worth.