Los Angeles Lakers: Four free agents to avoid this summer

4. C DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousinsis the biggest name to hit the free agent market this summer. WhilePaul Georgeand LeBron James may also be there due to their player options, he joinsChris Paulas the biggest names to be an unrestricted free agent.

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Technically,Kevin Durantis already set to be an unrestricted free agent as well since he declined his player option. However, he declined the option torework a dealwith the Golden State Warriors, so we are not counting him.

Cousins is the best center in the game, the only person on his level isKarl-Anthony Towns. Cousins not only is a handful down low, on the glass and is a good rim protector, but he can stretch the floor. He is the perfect hybrid between and old-school and new-school breed of center.

On paper, Cousins is exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers need. He is a superstar, he is a center and he will be inviting any other star to join LA. Six months ago, I was first in line to hype Cousins up as the next Laker.

What makes these seemingly better for the Lakers is the team could theoretically sign Cousins for much less than he is worth since he is coming off of injury.

However, it is the injury that should be keeping the Lakers away.

Cousinsruptured his Achilles in late-January, which rendered him out for the rest of the season. And while recovery is seeminglygoing great and faster than anticipated, Cousins is still coming off of one of the worst injuries for an athlete to have.

Cousins could possibly ready to go by the start of next season. The problem is that guys simply are not the same after this injury. This exact injury effectively endedKobe BryantandPatrick Ewing‘s careers in the NBA.

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Cousins is younger, which is a plus. However, he also lacks the mobility and athleticism that could help overcome an injury like this. While the potential for something special is there with Cousins, the Los Angeles Lakers simply cannot afford to take the risk.

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