With DeMarcus Cousins likely done for the season with an ACL tear, it leaves the Los Angeles Lakers starting line up influx. Who will step up to the plate and take Cousins place during training camp?
All it takes is one moment to alter a franchises season.
With the trade acquisition of superstar forward Anthony Davis to join all-world performer LeBron James, Lakers fans were giddy at the prospect of the two all-stars joining together. Not since the days of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, had the Lakers found a pairing that suited each other perfectly.
The Lakers weren’t finished there, further adding shooters such as Troy Daniels, Quinn Cook, Avery Bradley, and Jared Dudley. They also re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, and fan-favorite Alex Caruso.
The greatest free-agent signing intrigue was reserved for former Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins.
Having come off of 2 years of injury hell, Cousins was a welcomed addition to the Lakers roster. He had put himself in the best position to succeed with the purple and gold by shedding weight and looking much leaner and mobile.
However, during an off-season shootaround, Cousins’ bad luck continued. He clashed knees with another player and further testing showed that Cousins had torn his ACL. A hammer blow to a player who had done so much to get his body right and prove doubters wrong.
With his injury, the Los Angeles Lakers then signed Dwight Howard to fill the spot.
With not long left until the season begins, the Lakers might be forced to go back to the drawing board and decide what their rotation is going to look like going into the regular season.
Here is an updated look at what the Los Angeles Lakers starting five could look like, post Boogie Cousins ACL tear.