3 Contenders That Should Sign DeMarcus Cousins

The Houston Rockets have officially waived big man DeMarcus Cousins. Boogie could've stayed in Houston if he wanted ample playing time on a team going nowhere, but his release clears the way for him to add depth to a contender and play for his first ring.

With that in mind, here are three contenders that should sign Cousins.

DeMarcus Cousins Destinations

3. Brooklyn Nets

It's clear that DeAndre Jordan isn't the Brooklyn Nets' solution at center, but with Jarrett Allen shipped out, the Nets have few other options. Enter Cousins, who could give Brooklyn a bruising presence in the paint that they desperately need. Cousins (9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds per game) is actually out-producing Jordan (7.4 points, 7.2 rebounds) in fewer minutes per night (20.2 vs 22.0). With Cousins at center in this high-powered offense, Boogie could see his numbers jump even more given the stars around him.

2. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors didn't look like contenders to start the season, but they now sit fourth in the Eastern Conference and have won four straight games, including back-to-back road wins against the Milwaukee Bucks and a home win versus the Philadelphia 76ers. It's clear Toronto can hang with the East's elite, but they could use some reinforcements down low to complement Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher. With the Raptors sure to play bruisers like Joel Embiid, Brook Lopez and Myles Turner in the playoffs, Cousins and his 6-foot-10, 270-pound frame would be an asset.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

A reunion between Cousins and the Los Angeles Lakers seems to be the most likely outcome. He signed with the team prior to last season, but an ACL tear prevented him from suiting up for the eventual NBA champion. With Anthony Davis currently hurt, LeBron James looks overwhelmed trying to will L.A. to victory. The Lakers' current three-game losing streak has shown that James needs even more help, and plugging in a dependable scoring big Boogie could help take some of the pressure off of him. And when Davis returns, Cousins will be another veteran option off of the bench that the team can turn to in the playoffs for a spark.

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