One Los Angeles Lakers storyline that was overshadowed by the festivities surrounding NBA All-Star weekend is news of a potential return this season for DeMarcus Cousins. The 29-year-old four-time All-Star signed a one-year contract with the Lakers during the offseason before suffering an ACL injury in August. But according to coach Frank Vogel–who spoke with reporters in Chicago–DeMarcus could be back providing an added punch to the Lakers lineup by the playoffs.
“He’s on track to get healthy by the playoffs,” Vogel said. “We’ll have to see where he’s at with rhythm and conditioning and timing and all that stuff. But there’s a possibility he returns this season, yes.”
The Los Angeles Lakers head coach discusses Cousins and his potential return at the 22-minute mark in the video below.
While featuring JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis up front, the Lakers are already one of the tallest teams in the NBA. Adding Cousins to that big-man rotation would only increase their overwhelming length around the basket. Whether DeMarcus will be ready from a conditioning standpoint to contribute meaningful minutes alongside LeBron James and company during the postseason is anyone’s guess. But Vogel suggesting he expects him to be healthy enough to give it a shot by that point is certainly encouraging for the purple and gold.
