Los Angeles Lakers: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
Signed DeMarcus Cousins
The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to bring in a third star, with Kawhi Leonard signing on to play for their cross-town rivals and every other player moving in other directions.
While they stocked most of the roster with role players designed to play off of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers did take one swing at the fences that, if it turns out, could represent some form of a third star.
As recently as two seasons ago DeMarcus Cousins was an All-Star starter in the Western Conference, putting up 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game for the New Orleans Pelicans before tearing his Achilles.
He and Davis will reunite in the frontcourt they used to bludgeon opponents in 2017-18.
Many may look at Cousins as washed after his injuries, and he certainly was not the same player when he returned last year. Even so, he put up 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds last season for the Golden State Warriors, something only 20 players did.
No player did so in fewer than Cousins’ 25.7 minutes per game.
Cousins is a player used to having the ball in his hands, and with the Lakers that does not look to be the case very often. Even so, his willingness to sign for just $3.5 million to play for a contender suggests he is ready to accept his role.
The opportunity cost was minimal, and even a reduced Cousins has more to offer than the other options available at that price point. For a team with limited resources, Cousins represented the best home run shot the team had available.