2. Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets fully committed to a completely unseen version of basketball this season after including center Clint Capela in a four-team deal to land wing Robert Covington. This gave the Rockets no real center and committed to the small-ball plan that they had been mostly leaning into for several years.
The Rockets’ front office, led by Daryl Morey, is definitely one of the most innovative in the league and even if the Russell Westbrook-James Harden is not perfect, the front office is not going to punt on the offseason and do nothing.
Their hands are tied salary cap-wise so they would have to get really creative in trying to improve the team, which makes Cousins such a perfect target for the Rockets. Using the MLE, the Rockets could bring Cousins in to give them the size that they need on the defensive end while also keeping in touch with their play style.
Cousins is a true stretch five and that is exactly what the Rockets could use on this roster. He is not someone who is going to clog the lane and would be a dangerous pick and roll option with either Harden or Westbrook.
The only thing that could prevent this from happening is Cousins’ outlook on the fit in Houston. He might not be okay playing with two guys with such usage rates, especially when he is trying to go out and play for a new contract.