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Lakers Rumors: Team turned down opportunity at DeMarcus Cousins

By Kenneth Teape

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 5: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 5, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 5: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans handles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 5, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors may upset some fans, as the team reportedly had a chance to land DeMarcus Cousins, but decided against it.

Los Angeles Lakers rumors have been coming in hot the last couple days. Los Angeles has been very active in free agency, landing the biggest fish, LeBron James, on the first day of free agency. James was the first domino to fall, agreeing to a four-year, $154 million contract. The fourth year of the deal is a player option.

After James signed, the Lakers quickly got to work filling out the rest of the roster. The next player signed was shooting guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Caldwell-Pope had arguably the best season of his career with the Lakers in 2017-18. He agreed to another one-year deal with Los Angeles worth $12 million.

Following Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers made a shocking decision. They signed one of James’ biggest rivals over the past few years in Lance Stephenson. The old adage if you can’t beat them, join them would fit here. Stephenson agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million.

The next addition came in the frontcourt. The Lakers signed center JaVale McGee away from the defending champion Golden State Warriors. McGee agreed to a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum.

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The latest addition to the team comes in the backcourt. The Lakers filled their need for a veteran point guard, signing Rajon Rondo. Rondo agreed on a one-year, $9 million deal. To sign Rondo, the Lakers have to renounce the rights to Julius Randle, who took Rondo’s spot on the New Orleans Pelicans with a two-year deal.

While those are solid signings to round out the roster, there isn’t another major acquisition in that mix. Fans were hoping that another superstar would be brought in with James right away. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are working on that, but have decided to spend money elsewhere in free agency thus far.

With Paul George agreeing to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder, many fans wondered if DeMarcus Cousins would be the Lakers’ next target. Cousins was expected to meet with the Lakers and Pelicans shortly after free agency began according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated.

However, nothing came of those meetings, if they ever materialized. According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Lakers were actually presented with an opportunity to sign Cousins but decided against it.

"Word also reached us Monday night that LeBron’s Lakers, after signing Rajon Rondo away from New Orleans and then losing Randle to the Pelicans, had an opportunity to sign Cousins at a one-year price point similar to the one that landed him in Golden State. But I’m told the Lakers passed, clearing the way for the Warriors to infuriate the basketball public yet again."

The Warriors, already lightyears ahead of every other team in the NBA, added arguably the best center in the NBA on a one-year, $5.3 million deal. Even while recovering from Achilles surgery, this is a steal in every sense of the word.

Why the Lakers decided to pass on Cousins was not explained. He has been a headache for teams in the past, clashing with some coaches and teammates. However, at that price and for one season, it will be difficult to explain to fans why he would be passed up on.

Maybe the Lakers decided it was not worth the headache. Or, they weren’t confident he would be able to produce for them given his Achilles injury. The Lakers wouldn’t have the luxury of waiting like the Warriors do.

Whatever the reason may be, this is news that will disappoint some fans. Right now the Lakers frontcourt is very thin with McGee and Ivica Zubac as the only centers on the roster. A lot of the Lakers moves thus far in free agency have come in the backcourt.

Next: 10 Greatest Free Agent Signings In Lakers History

When healthy, Cousins is as dominant as any center in the league. He gets the job done on both ends of the court and stuffs the stat sheet. Cousins would have filled the void in the middle for the Lakers, but ultimately, the team passed on the chance to sign him. As a result, he signed with the Warriors, an outcome that even shocked them.

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