Los Angeles Lakers: DeMarcus Cousins is worth a mid-level exception

The biggest thing surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers right now is Kawhi Leonard, although the front office still needs to fill out a roster.

The Los Angeles Lakers‘ biggest target right now is Kawhi Leonard, which would form a super team big-three unlike anything else we have seen in the league. The Lakers would have three of the best six players in the NBA, which might just be better than this last Golden State Warriors run.

At the time of writing this, Leonard has still not signed with his new team. Heck, by the time you are reading this he might have already made that decision and he might not be a Laker at all; foregoing the team for either the Toronto Raptors or New York Knicks.

Regardless if the Lakers get Leonard or not, the front office still has to fill out the rest of the roster to build a suitable playoff squad. The team is easily talented enough to contend for the title but building depth with the right role players is the best way to maximize the team’s chances.

More from LA Sports Hub

The Lakers are going to have two best friends this offseason, especially if they sign Leonard: veteran minimum contracts and one mid-level exception.

The mid-level exception allows the team to sign one one-year, $5.1 million contract that would otherwise go over the salary cap. Out of all of the pieces on the market, the best use of that mid-level exception would be none other than DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins was viewed as one of the best free agents heading into last offseason before suffering an Achilles injury that is still hurting his stock today. He had great stretches in Golden State this past year in limited playing time but for the most part, did not seem to be at 100 percent.

Because of that, the market for Cousins has practically diminished and he finds himself in the same situation as last year needing a team. He certainly has the raw talent to be successful and as long as he can get over his health concerns he should be just fine.

That does not mean that a team should offer him a long-term deal, as that would be foolish because of those concerns. That is why his market is virtually non-existent and why him being a mid-level exception is even possible.

Cousins is likely going to do exactly what he did last offseason and sign with the best contending team that is interested in signing him. That should be the Lakers, who would be significantly adding depth to the team and bolstering the second unit.

Cousins can start off the bench for the Lakers as a sixth man and if he thrives in that role could even move to the starting lineup. This could either bump Kyle Kuzma to the sixth man spot or the team could run a big lineup with Anthony Davis at the four, Kuzma at the three and LeBron James in the backcourt.

It would certainly be unorthodox and I doubt the team would start that lineup but that definitely would be the guys that are on the court to close out a game. All of them can stretch the floor, so there really should not be any major issues there.

Next. Shooting guards to target. dark

Cousins is not worth more as he does not really address an area of need for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, if he is available on that mid-level exception, the Lakers better sign him as quick as the team possibly can.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers