Los Angeles Lakers: Potential 2020 offseason blueprint
Los Angeles Lakers’ blueprint, step two: Re-Sign DeMarcus Cousins
The Los Angeles Lakers took a risk in signing DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins in the summer of 2019.
Coming off multiple injuries with both the New Orleans Pelicans and the Golden State Warriors, Cousins was signed by the purple and gold in a low risk- high reward contract.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Cousins was not able to stay healthy and didn’t even make his debut for the purple and gold.
While this was incredibly disappointing for both the Lakers and Cousins himself, it was also a hammer blow to Lakersnation as a whole.
With Cousins losing considerable weight and looking in the best shape of his career, fans of the purple and gold were salivating at the thought of landing Cousins for next to nothing and him potentially going back to his previous level of play with the Pelicans and Sacramento Kings.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t meant to be.
Even with the season currently on hiatus with COVID-19 running rampant, this season should it go ahead is still probably too early for Cousins to come back.
Next season on the other hand, that is the perfect time to bring Cousins back into the fold and see if he has still got it.
Signing Cousins to a similar deal to the deal he was signed to this year makes sense for both parties as Cousins hasn’t proved that he can get back to his level of play and the Lakers have limited funding to pay Cousins any more than what he was earning last season,
If Boogie Cousins comes back next season and plays even 70% of what he previously was before, then the Los Angeles Lakers will have a great player on their hands for a fraction of his future market value.
If Cousins comes back to his best, then the Lakers will have another All-Star on their roster.
Cousins, when healthy and with his game on point is a sight to behold. On both ends of the floor, DeMarcus Cousins is a high-level contributor.
Capable of blocking shots at an above-average rate, Cousins also uses his unique foot-speed for his size to stay in front of centers, power forwards, and some small forwards.
On the offensive end of the floor is where Cousins truly shines.
Not since the days of Shaq has a player physically dominated his competition. Using his mix of strength, size, and post moves, Cousins bullies anyone he wants down low and flushes the ball right in there face.
If he is being double-teamed, Cousins is incredible at finding the open man for a wide-open shot. He has also developed his mid-range and outside show which makes him extremely dangerous and unpredictable.
Seeing a forward pairing of Cousins and Davis once more should strike fear into the hearts of any team they play.
They have a natural chemistry and with Cousins spending the year building chemistry with the rest of the current Lakers squad, he automatically has a head start in terms of contributing straight away.
Bringing Cousins back again would be a low risk-high reward idea that could pay huge dividends for the purple and gold.
If it works, and Cousins comes back at near All-Star form, the Lakers will be incredibly hard to beat.