The Los Angeles Lakers have hopes of winning the NBA title this season. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and a roster that compliments their game, they certainly have a good chance to meet their goals this campaign.
But as James continues to age, and Davis continues to dodge a long-term commitment to the franchise, one thing has been made abundantly clear: time isn’t on their side.
Maybe LeBron has a few more years and maybe Davis signs an extension, but now maybe their best chance to win. In light of this reality, they are going all-in on building the best roster they can.
The Lakers are currently looking for ways to improve their Championship chances and, fortunately for them, the NBA may be giving teams a chance to sign free agents before the season resumes next month. For the Lakers, this could very well mean a return of DeMarcus Cousins.
Eligible replacement players probably will have had to be signed in the NBA or G League or be on training camp contracts this season, sources said. Under these restrictions, for example, no team could sign veteran Jamal Crawford — who went unsigned all season — or an international player.
The league office has discussed the possibility with its teams that there could be a requirement that those players replaced for COVID-19 or injury would become ineligible to return for the balance of this season, sources said.
NBA teams able to sign free agents before the season resumes? This has Boogie returning to LA written all over it. 👀 https://t.co/BsSvk3vYRR
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 8, 2020
DeMarcus Cousins was technically on the roster until February, until the Lakers released him to make room for Markieff Morris.
This makes him eligible to be signed if the league decides to allow the scenario illustrated above.
Considering all his previous injuries, a DeMarcus signing wouldn’t be game-changing for L.A. But he would provide be an indisputable boost to the frontcourt. Last we saw him healthy, he averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 46% shooting.
