Lakers are debating adding former all-star or former lottery pick

With Anthony Davis on his method again to the lineup, the Los Angeles Lakers seem like out there for big-man depth as they make their playoff push. One potential possibility is former Laker and four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins bounced across the NBA after tearing his Achilles in 2018 whereas enjoying for the New Orleans Pelicans and later joined the Lakers, solely to tear his ACL shortly after signing.

Now, Cousins, who hasn’t performed this season, will work out with the Lakers. Whereas the chances are that he might not assist the staff a lot this season, they will afford to kick the tires now that they will signal gamers to 10-day contracts. Regardless of not being anyplace close to the participant that he as soon as was, Cousins might nonetheless theoretically assist the staff.

He might present Los Angeles with a bench scoring possibility, one who can rating within the publish and knock down the occasional three. He doesn’t provide a lot in the way in which of protection at this level apart from some rim safety, however he has all the time been an efficient rebounder.

Signing Cousins is also an insurance coverage coverage for Davis, who has all the time struggled to remain wholesome for prolonged intervals of time. Having one other large man in place who has loads of NBA expertise and might rating might maintain some enchantment, simply in case Davis goes down once more or wants to sit down out a recreation as a consequence of load upkeep.

The Lakers are taking a look at different choices.

Along with Cousins, the Lakers are figuring out former Portland Path Blazers and Miami Warmth large man Meyers Leonard. Leonard hasn’t performed within the NBA in a few seasons however continues to be simply 30 years previous.

Previous to his hiatus from the NBA, Leonard was often called an athletic stretch-five, although he struggled on the defensive finish. Nonetheless, his taking pictures capacity could also be sufficient to warrant the Lakers signing him to a 10-day contract and seeing if he can assist tackle their want for spacing.

Between Cousins and Leonard, Cousins continues to be doubtless essentially the most proficient possibility however can be older and have baggage given his identified angle points. Nevertheless, which may be behind him if he’s keen to work out with the Lakers only for the chance to signal a 10-day contract.

Alternatively, regardless of some baggage of his personal, Leonard might beat out Cousins given that he’s youthful and has confirmed to be a greater 3-point shooter over his profession. Both method, whether or not the Lakers select Cousins or Leonard, they doubtless received’t earn constant minutes as a result of heart Thomas Bryant has stepped up in an enormous method within the absence of Davis.

Bryant has averaged 17.4 factors and 10.8 rebounds in his final 10 video games and 13 factors and seven.3 rebounds in solely 22 minutes per recreation general this season. With Davis coming again quickly and Bryant enjoying properly, the Lakers must be tremendous at heart, however they might all the time afford extra depth on the place given Davis’ monitor document.