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Los Angeles Lakers: Isaiah Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins are low-risk, high-reward

By C.J. Mendenhall

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers gets around Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on March 13, 2018 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.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers gets around Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets on March 13, 2018 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.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
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If the Los Angeles Lakers miss out on a star in free agency, these two players could provide a high upside

Los Angeles Lakers fans, man, you have to just feel bad for Isaiah Thomas. Only 2 years ago, he was talking about the Boston Celtics “backing up the Brink’s truck”, expecting a huge payday. This was after a season in which he led the team to the Eastern Conference Finals, was top-5 in MVP voting, and led the league in points in the fourth quarter.

Recently, he was buried at the end of the bench on a Denver Nuggets squad that was able to capture the number two seed in the Western Conference playoffs. A Kyrie Irving trade demand which led to the Celtics trading Thomas, along with a hip injury, caused that Brink’s truck to drive off quickly.

He is a great guy, who poured his heart and soul into Boston, was beloved by the fans, and surprised everyone by going from a number sixty draft pick to a MVP candidate.

After being traded to the Cavs, he was quickly traded to the Lakers. He played pretty well, and in his first game wearing Purple & Gold he said “I felt like I got my superpowers back”. He also grew up a Lakers fan. He now plans to be “the steal of free agency”, and he very well could be.

He’s not going to command much money on the open market this offseason, and it’s possible he could return to a MVP level of play. The Lakers need a point guard, they’re familiar with him from his stint with them, and then can get him for cheap. This is a low-risk, and possibly extremely high-reward proposition.

There’s another guy in a similar position. Four time All-star, DeMarcus Cousins, has also had a rough go of it lately. He signed with the Golden State Warriors last summer for very little money, compared to the money he would’ve been offered on the open market if not for an achilles injury he sustained while playing alongside Anthony Davis in New Orleans during the second half of the 2017-18 season.

He finally made a deep postseason run with the Warriors after being stuck with the Sacramento Kings for his whole career before being traded to New Orleans. However, he sustained an injury at the very beginning of the playoffs, missing most of the postseason. He came back in time for the Finals, but was not 100 percent.

With career averages of 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, while shooting 46.1% from the field, and 33.2% from beyond the arc, Cousins could be signed to a bargain deal due to recent injuries, similar to last summer.

If one or both of Thomas and Cousins return to their elite play, the Lakers could have their “Big three (or four)” and still have cap space. While I do not see the Lakers going this route, I think it would be wise to consider. Cousins still put up impressive numbers during his time with Golden State, and Thomas is “excited to show what he can do again”, and would clearly love to land with the Lakers.

Next. Reasons Lakers might already have their Big 3. dark

Going this route would also allow the Lakers to surround LeBron, Davis, Kuzma, Thomas, and Cousins with quality role players, since they would have cap space remaining. If they sign someone like Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving, they’ll have virtually no cap space left to work with.

It’s a crazy idea. But it’s one that could form a very dangerous team.

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