Report: Los Angeles Lakers will waive former Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins
The Los Angeles Lakers are planning to waive former Kings center DeMarcus Cousins to create roster flexibility, ESPN reported Friday, the latest turn for the injured former All-Star who began his career in Sacramento.
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne the Lakers intend to waive Cousins on Sunday in order to claim Markieff Morris if he clears waivers. Morris reportedly negotiated a buyout with the Detroit Pistons on Friday.
Cousins has been out all season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. The injury is expected to sideline him all season, although there has been some speculation that he could return in time for the playoffs.
The Kings selected Cousins, 29, a four-time NBA All-Star, out of Kentucky with the fifth pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. He represented the Kings in the All-Star Game three times. The third time, he was famously informed with cameras rolling after the game he was about to be traded to New Orleans, where the All-Star Game was held.
Cousins has career averages of 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocked shots over nine seasons with the Kings, Pelicans and Golden State Warriors. He has yet to play a game for the Lakers since signing a one-year deal with them last summer.
The Kings are thin in the post with Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III both out due to injuries. Even if the Kings were interested in bringing him back to Sacramento, Cousins is reportedly not even close to returning from his knee injury.
Cousins tore his left Achilles with the Pelicans in 2018. He played the second half of the season with the Warriors in 2018-19 before tearing his left quadriceps in the first round of the playoffs. He signed with the Lakers in July but tore his ACL in August.
