2019 NBA free agency: 5 potential landing spots for DeMarcus Cousins

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(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

As a talented big man with quite a bit of baggage, where DeMarcus Cousins winds up in 2019 NBA free agency is anyone’s guess.

Since entering the NBA back in 2010, DeMarcus Cousins had grown accustomed to a certain level of dominance during his time in the league. By the 2014-15 season, he was a perennial All-Star putting up numbers of historic proportions. It wasn’t until January of 2018 where everything changed.

The story is well-known by now. Cousins suffered a torn Achilles right before unrestricted free agency. Instead of taking what may or may not have been available to him, Boogie decided on a different route, one that would afford him a low-stakes environment to rehab while maybe nabbing a championship ring in the process.

As is the case with just about every player coming off a major injury, Cousins’ inaugural run with the Golden State Warriors was met with both highs and lows. He averaged an impressive 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game but clearly seemed to lack his previous explosion and movement.

Whereas he may have been hoping to prove his worth come playoff time, things unfortunately only got worse for Boogie. A torn quad suffered in Game 2 of the opening round had him in street clothes until the NBA Finals. His playing time against the Toronto Raptors was sporadic, as was his level of production with just 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds a game on 42.5 percent shooting from the field.

Cousins was looking to head into 2019 free agency reborn as a player with a large deal waiting for him. After two major lower-body injuries tacked on to a 270-pound frame, the market for him may not be much better now than it was then.

This doesn’t mean no team would be willing to offer a more team-friendly contract. After all, a number of teams have holes in the middle with even more having money to spend this summer. It may not be the ideal scenario, but ultimately, another one-year “prove-it” deal for Boogie is what he once again needs to return to All-Star form.