Frank Vogel says Lakers have ‘tempered expectations’ for DeMarcus Cousins

If you were expecting DeMarcus Cousins to be ready to go for the Los Angeles Lakers by the time the playoffs roll around in mid-April, it’s probably time you start to slow your roll. Because while a comment about Cousins ‘being on track’ to be healthy for the postseason from Frank Vogel got a lot of headlines at All-Star Weekend, Vogel clarified what he meant by them as the Lakers returned to practice on Thursday.

Vogel told reporters on Thursday that the Lakers don’t want to rule anything out with regards to Cousins but that the timing is “not ideal” for bringing him back in the playoffs, according to Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group.

Frank Vogel said today that DeMarcus Cousins is "not close" to return, and acknowledged a playoff return would be difficult: "It’s a big challenge. It’s not ideal. That’s why we’re keeping expectations tempered. Not ruling it out."

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) February 20, 2020

“Not ruling it out” is a huge difference from “on track to be healthy in the playoffs,” so shout out to Vogel for getting out in front of the story and correcting the record.

However, it remains bizarre how the Lakers have handled Cousins’ injury all season long. This isn’t the first time they’ve talked about keeping a return for him a possibility and perhaps that is the way he wants it. However, logically it seems highly unlikely all how someone could tear their ACL in August but still be ready to play basketball at the highest level come April, May, and June. That they are keeping the possibility open seems like a carrot for Cousins’ rehab rather than a realistic thing for the Lakers to count on this season.