Rockets to Part Ways With Center DeMarcus Cousins

One day after announcing that they would be guaranteeing Cousins’ contract for the rest of the season, the Houston Rockets are reportedly parting ways with the former four-time NBA All-Star.

According to The Athletic, the Rockets are focused on getting smaller but younger in the post when Christian Wood returns from injury. Wood suffered an ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago but is expected to return before the All-Star break.

Wood to Return Soon

While the Rockets have not set an official timetable for Wood, the player himself offered his own prediction as to when he will return. According to Wood, he should be back before the All-Star break. That would mean that his return, at the latest, will be on March 3rd when the Rockets host former star James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets.

Christian Wood says he will return before the All-Star break. The last game for the Rockets before the break is when James Harden and the Nets come to town on March 3. pic.twitter.com/SXsmzevKze

— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 19, 2021

Wood has been one of the biggest surprises in the league this season. The 25-year old center was averaging 22.0 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 55.8% from the field and 41.2% from three-point distance in 31.2 minutes of action. Wood had been a shoo-in for both the All-Star game and U.S. men’s basketball team to the Olympic games before he was hurt.

The return of Wood is essential to the Rockets’ fortunes this season. Before they went reeling with their current seven-game losing streak, Houston had won seven out of their last eight games played and had battled back to 12-11 on the season after going five games below the .500 mark at 4-9. The Rockets are winless since Wood went down with his second ankle injury of the season.

Boogie Nights Over

The Rockets signed Cousins to a non-guaranteed deal during the offseason. The 30-year old seven-footer was the 5th pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft. Cousins made four All-Star game appearances and was named to the All-NBA second team during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Rockets and DeMarcus Cousins are planning to part ways in the coming days, per @ShamsCharania

Cousins will be able to sign anywhere he wants pic.twitter.com/ecIbih0DcI

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 20, 2021

Cousins was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017 but suffered an Achilles injury in January 2018. He would miss the rest of the season, and a big free-agent contract at the end of the campaign. Boogie ended up signing with the Golden State Warriors via the mid-level exception. He signed with the Lakers the following season but suffered an ACL injury before the 2019-20 season and was subsequently waived by the Lakers.

He is one of 11 players in the NBA with career averages of 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 3+ assists per game. Cousins primarily played back-up to Wood this season, averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game while playing 20.2 minutes of playing time in 25 total games.

Where to Next?

Cousins may have not looked like his old self this season but if you convert his season per-game averages to Per 36 minutes figures, he is putting up 17.1 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per three quarters. That’s not bad really, for someone who is still trying to get things together after two successive serious injuries. Aside from that, Cousins is a very smart player with playoff experience and he can be an asset to a contending team.

After guaranteeing his contract, the Rockets will be parting ways with DeMarcus Cousins 😮

Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets will likely be the top candidates for landing Boogie who’s averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds this season. pic.twitter.com/oSCvcnh8s1

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 21, 2021

Because of those, Cousins is currently being linked to the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets primarily. The Miami Heat are also said to be interested in acquiring the services of the former Kentucky Wildcat who will be free to sign to whichever team that he chooses once the Rockets release him.

The Lakers parted with Cousins on good terms and they hope that adding his name on their 2020 championship ring will help lure Boogie back.

The Nets meanwhile have Kevin Durant who played with Cousins in Golden State. However, Brooklyn also has Harden, whom Cousins and John Wall didn’t appreciate for his antics in Houston. It remains to be seen where Cousins will end up. But one thing’s sure, he’s going to be a sweepstake for the league’s top contenders.