Report: Lakers passed on Cousins
The Los Angeles Lakers could have had LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins but passed on the free-agent center, according to the New York Times' Marc Stein.
Cousins, who agreed to a one-year, $5.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors on Monday, was reportedly available to the Lakers for the same terms but was rebuffed.
His salary represents the taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Lakers, who are tasked with building a roster around James, instead added former Warriors center JaVale McGee for the veteran's minimum, along with one-year deals for point guard Rajon Rondo and swingman Lance Stephenson.
Adding two more primary ballhandlers in James and the 32-year-old Rondo makes for a unique situation as Los Angeles selected point guard Lonzo Ball with the No. 2 overall choice in the 2017 draft.
Ball is currently rehabbing a torn meniscus in his left knee and is expected to be ready for training camp.
His outspoken father, LaVar Ball, says Lonzo and LeBron will "fit together like a glove," during a recent interview with Overtime.
"Lonzo makes everybody better, including (LeBron)," Ball said. "He's going to make Lonzo better because he's the best player. Lonzo's gonna orchestrate it, and (LeBron's) gonna be fine with that as long as it results in winning."
Cousins, who turns 28 in August, is recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon sustained in January. Prior to the injury, the Pelicans were expected to offer him a max-level, five-year contract this offseason, but the severity of the issue was expected to depress his market significantly. Now he will have the opportunity to repair his value on a one-year contract before hitting the market again next offseason.
Before his injury, Cousins was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game through 48 games with the Pelicans, figures that have never been reached by one player in a single season in NBA history. It was his first full season in New Orleans after the Pelicans acquired him in February of 2017 for a package including Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and a first-round pick.
The Pelicans signed former Lakers big man Julius Randle to a two-year, $18 million deal.
--Field Level Media