It is reported that a source revealed that the Rockets are planning to part ways with Cousins, the center of the team, and Cousins will be laid off in a high probability. The management of the Rockets said that they hoped that the team's lineup would be more flexible and younger when the team's main insider Wood returned, so they chose to cut Cousins. Before this news was revealed, the Rockets had no sign of cutting Cousins. Not long ago, they converted Cousins' one-year unsecured contract into a $2.3 million guaranteed contract. Almost all fans thought Cousins would play for the Rockets until the end of this season, or even longer.
Cousins came back in the offseason after sustained serious injuries, and joined the Rockets on a one-year unsecured contract. However, Cousins' performance was generally good, averaging 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 2.2 minutes, but his shooting percentage was a career low of 37.6% and his three-point shooting percentage was 33.3%. Cousins was always a substitute in the team before Wood was injured. Cousins, as a substitute player, can open up the offensive space for the rotation of the team and keep the team stable in a short time.
But Wood's injury changed everything. Cousins suddenly became the starting center of the team. Since Wood's injury, Cousins' defensive efficiency value was 111, and his net efficiency value was negative 8.9. Before Wood's injury, Cousins' net efficiency value was negative .4, and his defensive efficiency value was 13.8 (the lower the defensive efficiency value, the better the score of the opposing player). When Cousins matched Tucker in the starting lineup, some opponents let their center play Tucker and their power forward play Cousins, which made it difficult for the team to attack. Cousins has struggled in the paint this season, often allowing opponents to grab offensive rebounds and complete the second attack, and his slow pace often makes him unable to prevent going out or return to the paint in time.
On the offensive end, Cousins' offensive efficiency in the inside is very low, and the best proof is that his shooting percentage is only 37.6%, which is very unqualified for an inside player. In contrast, Cousins' three-point shooting percentage is 33.3% this season, averaging 4.6 three-points and hitting 1.6 of them, which means that almost half of Cousins' attacks this season are from outside. During the period when Wood was injured, the Rockets, who made Cousins the starting center of the team, suffered a seven-game losing streak. Cousins' defensive and offensive performances were not suitable for the Rockets after Wood's comeback, so the Rockets decided to give up Cousins when Wood was about to return.
After the news that the Rockets were about to lay off Cousins, the Lakers and the Heat immediately showed interest in signing Cousins. It is worth mentioning that the Lakers and the Heat, as opponents in the finals last season, suffered injuries at the same time. The reason why the Lakers want Cousins is very obvious. After Davis was injured by a calf strain, the Lakers' insiders were very tight. Although the team signed Gasol Jr., the former best defensive player in the offseason, he only averaged 4.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. All the data hit a career low, and his shooting percentage was also a career low of 39.6%. On the offensive end, little Gasol made little contribution to the Lakers.
The Lakers also signed the sixth man of last season, harel, as the backup inside. Although harel averaged 13.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, it is well known that harel has never been an excellent defensive player. Therefore, in the case that Davis will continue to be absent for a period of time, considering the performances of Gasol Jr. and harel, the Lakers urgently need to find an insider who can serve as the team's rotation player, so they put the signing target on Cousins. Although Cousins' performance as the team's starter is struggling, he can still serve as a rotation insider in the championship-seeking team.
As for the Heat, the team also suffered a large number of injuries during the season. Drazic, the team's new aid Bradley and the team's backup inside Leonard were all absent due to injuries. To make matters worse, Hiro was injured in the game against the Lakers. As the champion of the Eastern Conference last season, the Heat ranked 1th in the Eastern Conference with only 13 wins and 17 losses. Strictly speaking, the only inside players in the Heat lineup are Adebayor and Olinic, and Olinic is also a player who tends to attack outside. Therefore, the Heat urgently need to introduce other inside players for the team to improve the team's situation, so they put the signing target on Cousins.
Judging from Cousins' contact with the two teams, the Lakers are undoubtedly more advantageous in chasing Cousins. Cousins, whose contract with the Warriors expired, did not choose to renew the contract with the team, but signed a one-year basic salary contract with the Lakers. However, before the start of the season, Cousins unexpectedly suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a team training, and in the middle of last season, the Lakers chose to cut Cousins in order to make room for signing big Morris. Cousins did not leave the Lakers immediately. He stayed in the Lakers to train with the team and recovered from injuries. Cousins also got a championship ring after the Lakers won the championship. In addition, Cousins and Davis were teammates in college, and once worked in the Pelican team. Therefore, for various reasons, the chances of the Lakers getting Cousins are still relatively large.
Cousins is a famous player who was destroyed by injury in NBA history. Before the injury, Cousins was selected into the All-Star Team for four times and the Second Team for the Best Team of the Season for two times. At the peak season, he averaged 27.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, and was the first center in the league at that time. Cousins suffered an achilles tendon tear at the last moment in the Pelican Rockets' match, but he still averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds when he joined the Warriors after his comeback, but he suffered a cruciate ligament tear again last season, and now he can't play his previous state because of injury.
The Rockets are still discussing with Cousins about leaving the team. In addition to cutting him off, the Rockets will also consider sending Cousins away by trading. If trading is adopted, it depends on who can provide more chips that interest the Rockets, the Lakers or the Heat. No matter which team Cousins will go to in the future, we sincerely hope Cousins can find a place that really suits him.