Los Angeles Lakers: What the future may hold for DeMarcus Cousins
By Zane Harris
The Los Angeles Lakers released DeMarcus Cousins to make room on the roster for Markieff Morris, but that does not necessarily signal the end of Cousins in LA.
It has almost been a week since DeMarcus Cousins has been released by the Los Angeles Lakers, yet he is still practicing and rehabilitating with the team. According to coach Frank Vogel, Cousins will continue to work through his recovery process with the team throughout the summer.
This means that he most likely will not be signing with another NBA team this season and will just be focused on recovering from the brutal injury he suffered this summer in a pick-up basketball game.
While everyone at the Lakers organization wishes nothing but the best for Cousins and for him to make the quickest recovery he can, with his sustaining injury, this could be the best-case scenario for both parties involved.
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On one hand, Cousins has a facility and a team of professional trainers that he can use to come back to the game as soon as he can. In the eyes of the Lakers, they can keep what was in his prime the best center in the entire league. He is an elite rebounder who averages eleven rebounds per game for his entire ten-season career.
Even after his brutal Achilles tear with the Pelicans, DeMarcus went on to average eight rebounds on the star-studded Warriors team he was a part of. On top of this, he can play as a stretch five because of his solid three-point shooting.
As a result of this, players like LeBron James or Anthony Davis, who thrive with space to operate inside the paint, will be able to run their preferred and more effective and efficient offense. On the defensive side of the ball, the combination and length present with a trio of James, Davis, and Cousins would be absolutely lethal in terms of inside defense and playing passing lanes.
Now, the Lakers can take a player that can help them now like Markeiff Morris and use his talents for the inevitable playoff run the Lakers have in front of them. Once DeMarcus Cousins is healthy and recovered from his injury, he most likely signs back with the Lakers and the team will have the best of both worlds.
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This prediction will be proven true or false within the next few months, but with Cousins still being close friends with many players on the team and well-respected by the Los Angeles Lakers players, I have no doubt that we will see him sporting the purple and gold for the first time next year.