But Silas understood it was always going to be an uphill battle keeping the Rockets viable defensively with Cousins on the floor.Īside from doing right by Cousins, the Rockets may have also gotten credit within NBA circles for their process. The big man was popular in the locker room, and a bevy of young players turned to Cousins for advice, perhaps none more than Jae'Sean Tate. He routinely praised his intangibles and recognized the offensive potential that even a diminished Cousins could bring to his roster. The four-time All-Star grew into a leadership role with the Rockets and became a mentor for their young players.įirst-year head coach Stephen Silas liked having Cousins around. Multiple reports indicated Houston wanted to reward Cousins for his consistent effort and professionalism. So why did the Rockets ensure Cousins would be paid before ending the short-lived relationship when they never actually intended to keep him? The front office seemed to be making an easy decision as Cousins was a cheap, serviceable part of the rotation.
In a small sample size, Cousins struggled on defense and never reached the offensive highs of the old "Boogie," but he did manage to average 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 25 games. On Friday afternoon, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that Houston had guaranteed Cousins' one-year, $2.3 million contract for the remainder of the season.
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It is a surprising move not only because Cousins had started seven games after Wood went down with an ankle injury earlier this month, but also because it appeared the Rockets had just signed on for at least one full Cousins campaign.ĪLL-STAR 2021: Which players should earn reserve spots? The Rockets are releasing the 30-year-old center, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, who reported that Houston wants to shift toward a "younger, smaller frontcourt" led by offseason acquisition Christian Wood. Only 29 games into the 2020-21 season, DeMarcus Cousins is searching for a new team.
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