Players around the NBA have been locking up deals since the opening of free agency on Sunday, June 30, at 6:00 p.m. ET. But it appears center DeMarcus Cousins has been left out in the cold.
With the Golden State Warriors in 2018-19, Cousins played in the first postseason of his career despite missing a year of basketball while rehabbing from a surgically-repaired ruptured Achilles. Cousins would suffer another serious injury in the second postseason game of career, a torn quad, leaving most to assume his season was over.
But given even the slimmest margin of possibility to make it back onto the court for the Finals, Cousins did what was asked of him, returned to action and made important contributions. Unfortunately, it appears the injuries are at the forefront of the minds of front office decision-makers more so than the work ethic Cousins has demonstrated to overcome them.
Now, Cousins has changed his agent. According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, the veteran big man is “enlisting the influential agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports” to help him find his next NBA home on a deal worthy of what he has to offer.
Cousins knew going into the season that the Warriors could not offer him a lucrative contract. But he probably expected that his 25.7 minutes, 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in the regular season were proof enough of his ability to make strong contributions as a starter despite the Achilles injury.
That he came back from a quad tear to average 16.6 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the postseason should speak volumes about his heart and commitment. And, as Cousins has said, all he needs is a proper offseason to truly reclaim his game.
Hopefully he will get that chance.
