DeMarcus Cousins has changed agents, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times (Twitter link). The center will be represented by Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports.
Cousins is arguably the second-best free agent left unsigned but the market for him hasn’t exactly been robust. Adrian Wojnarowski recently said that it’s possible that the big man will not find a deal worth more than the $5.34MM contract he signed last offseason.
The Warriors inked Cousins to the taxpayer’s mid-level last season and if he signed on with a team this season on a similar deal, he’d see a slight raise. This year’s taxpayer’s mid-level exception is $5.718MM, while the non-taxpayer is $9.258MM.
Cousins could find a team will cap room, though there are not many clubs left with significant available space. The Lakers stand out as a feasible option should they miss out on Kawhi Leonard. Los Angeles has just over $32MM in cap room available.
The Clippers are another team that will have cap room available if they miss out on Leonard. The Knicks were linked to Cousins before free agency as a fallback option but New York opted to spend its budget on Bobby Portis, Julius Randle and an assortment of veterans.
I sort of feel bad for the guy. Super talented. That injury cost him at least $150 mil. Even at less than 100% his numbers were pretty good. The playoffs showed his conditioning wasn’t top level but that’s to be expected considering what his body has been thru the last 2 years. Good luck.
I bet he had a deal on the table and his agent told him wait for a better deal. Now that deal is gone and no other better deal. He should have taken a deal with GSW but now they are over the cap.
Not sure the warriors were offering that again. They’re a different team now. I don’t know if cousins would have helped them this coming year. I like cauley-stein at the minimum salary better than cousins at 5.5 million.
WHAAAAAT?
Ba – leee Dat.
@arc89 There’s no evidence that GSW put forth an offer.
They are not technically over the cap they just don’t have anymore money available. With the trade to the nets for Russell, by rules, they must now stay under the cap.
Under the apron.
They are way over the cap, the point is they are not approaching the apron.
I wish him well too, always liked the guy. Was hoping he’d go back to the Kings but that ship has sailed. Would he entertain Charlotte or Lakers? Wish the Suns went all in on him but too late for that!
He seems like he should be a natural fit for the Houston Rockets. They need a frontcourt playmaker and that could be him. He can score inside, he can handle the ball and create his own shot (within reason), he can stretch the floor and be a spot up shooter, he is not a great defender but he’s active on the boards and has busy hands which led to 1-1.5 steals and blocks per game last year which is consistent with his career average. If Paul can run the offense more next season then he could really get the most out of Boogie. I also like his nastiness.
Even though they are clear cut competitors I wonder if a sign-and-trade could be worked out using Capela? Move Boogie into Capela’s salary space while ridding themselves of his contract so they have more wiggle room down the road? It would probably help both teams.
I am agree, this would be the horse-move for Houston
The warriors can’t do a sign and trade for two reasons, 1) they don’t have cousins bird rights so they can’t sign him to a deal anywhere close to what capela makes (which needs to happen for salary matching purposes), and 2) the warriors are hard capped and literally cannot take on any additional money
Wow. Ok thanks for explaining. Wasn’t sure how that would work.
I heard he is waiting to see if the Lakers get Leonard. If they don’t I heard he wants to go there to play again with Anthony Davis.. If you take a glance at the numbers for cousins he was at his best when paired up with AD.
AD and mates played much better after cousins tore the Achilles… just saying. He gets a lot of credit for doing well in NO, but that team only took off after he went down.
So I bet he goes to one of the LA teams for a 1 year $10 mill contract with a team option.
Or returns to GSW on a veterans minimum – but that is doubtful with GSW cap and their latest signings with WCS and Looney.
He’s definitely regretting that 2 year 40 million dollar deal From the pelicans last summer, took all that less money to not even win a chip
Every team in the NBA should be thanking Cousins. He brought the injury curse to the team and took out Klay and KD
Wow
This.
You’re right real!
He is going to whatever LA team doesn’t get Kawhi. If both do then Lakers
Huh
I think he means ‘if neither LA team gets Leonard, then Cousins will go to the Lakers…’
Bingo
I would think the Lakers if they don’t get Leonard especially being there is a glaring hole at center. Lakers ran out Kuzma last year and while he did do a very good job he is undersized for that position.
I mean they have AD, Kuz and Lebron at 5-4-3. Not sure if its a glaring hole.
Also Cousins is looking for a starting role to prove his value for next year’s free agency (which has a weak class)
I can understand that way of thinking but typically when you look at AD he is really up 4. Both of these guys were at their best when cousins was in New Orleans and he was the center and Davis what is the power forward.
AD was much better after Cousins you’re the Achilles
*tore
Of course, any star player must be, no choice there, better when the other star player gets injured, like this year Beal for the Wizards. With a star down the other needs to up the game… so can’t see your point, they played great together & both had great numbers & were at their best, if the team was better or not who cares anyway!
Previously represented by Dynasty Sports Management, the shift to Excel Sports gives DeMarcus one of the more successful agents working on his behalf. Entering FA with a ‘Boutique’ Firm was a huge error, a guy coming off injury with character baggage needs a frontline Agent to sell his story.
Schwartz represents a ton of other big men (Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, Nikola Jokic, Hassan Whiteside, Aldridge, Cody Zeller, Dwight Powell). Given how money has dried up in FA, DeMarcus is looking for a BAE or portion of a MLE at this point unless the Hawks jump in. Might intrigue the Hornets too with their MLE, but again is James Borrego willing to take on potential headaches?
@chriscrouse
The Mavs have the cap and the need.
the rox should try and get him.
Despite some of his issues, I am surprised that he can’t find a decent 1+1 deal. Guy is uber talented, and while his game may be a little antiquated for today’s NBA, he can still be a big contributor in the right situation.
Cousins can shoot the 3 and has good handles for a big so he fits today’s game pretty well. This year his shoot wasn’t as good this year (27%) as he was the two years prior (35% and 36% in 5-6 attempts per game). Where he lacks is defensively on switches. His foot work seemed really slow laterally.
The Wizards have the 9 million that they got from John Wall disabled appeal. Wall and boogie were college best friends. Boogie played with Isaiah Thomas in Sacramento. The Wizards seem like a PERFECT fit for Boogie
Can’t use it til like March.
Clippers make the most sense for me. They need a big, and could use some scoring around their defenders. OKC also makes some sense, depending on what exceptions they might have left.
Really love the Laker haters not mentioning the Lakers even though they need a center. Here is the deal if the clippers get Leonard Lakers get cousins if the Lakers get Leonard the Clippers get cousins if Toronto gets Leonard the Lakers odds are gets cousins.
A few ppl mentioned the Lakers way before you sent this message dude.
The Lakers have Anthony Davis. They could use a rim running, rim protecting, backup big, but DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t fit there. They need guards, wings, and shooting from those spots. I would assume they’ll bring back a couple of their own free agents, and then they could use a couple of other pieces like that around them. They’ve missed out on options that make you think Leonard could actually happen there, although they would still need that same help around them to fill out the roster, if that were to happen
How about Cousins takes a year off to get better andcmove better so he’s not such a drag when he inevitably cannot move like he thinks he should. His psychic aura takes up too much space for an unreliable contributor.
This shouldn’t shock anyone. When Boogie was a top 10 player in the league, only about 25% of the teams would even discuss him. Last year, nobody offered anything until GS offered a contract they knew could only involve him on the team for a month or two and a playoff run.
I think it’s the Lakers if they don’t get KL. More complicated if they do. I don’t see the Clips being interested either way.
Cousins will be a cheap but very important player for whoever gets him. Rumours are there isn’t a market for him but I still be teams like the Mavs, Rockets, Clippers, GSW, Lakers and Hawks would all still be keen on having him.
Any team who wouldn’t want a player like DMC is gotta be a joke of a franchise, simple as!
Just saying the NBA is all about athleticism now. Not Grinders.
Cousin’s athleticism has taken a little hit with a couple of injuries. He’s going to have to do a prove it year and after the quad injury cousins had zero lift, 0 explosion. Still effective butt teams are not coming with the five six or 10 million. One more prove it year is necessary.