The Los Angeles Lakers will be entering this upcoming season with what many may consider to be somewhat of a contingency lineup. They took their shot (and failed) on Kawhi Leonard, and in truth, it's hard to blame them for giving it a go. However, the problem is that in the process, the Lakers missed out on a number of significant potential free agent signings.
As soon as Kawhi announced his intention to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers scrambled. They ended up striking quick deals with the best free agents still remaining in the market, and while the makeup of their current lineup is not exactly terrible, they definitely could have done much better.
One such quick-fire deal was that of DeMarcus Cousins, who signed with the Lakers on sort of an experimental one-year deal shortly after Leonard's announcement. The 28-year-old four-time All-Star is coming off a horrid playoff run for the Golden State Warriors last season, where his lack of game shape was absolutely exposed.
However, he didn't exactly have a terrible season with the Dubs, as he actually put up some respectable numbers in the regular season once he was able to return from injury. In 30 games, Cousins averaged 16.3 points (on 48.0 percent shooting), 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks per contest. Sure, he was not the DeMarcus of old, but he was not as bad as some people would make him out to be.
As for his outlook for the coming season, we believe that Cousins could actually prove to be quite a force for the Lakers playing alongside one of the best big men in the league today in Anthony Davis. As a matter of fact, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel ought to seriously consider starting Cousins alongside Davis. During their time together with the New Orleans Pelicans, these two stars already proved that they can work well together, and surely, this is something that can work to the benefit of the current Lakers squad.
Because of how great Davis is, he is able to space the floor for his other teammates on the court. This is where Cousins can benefit greatly from, and based on their time together in New Orleans, this froncourt duo proved to be quite a handful for any opponent.
Despite being off the ball, defenders gravitate towards Davis, leaving Cousins with enough room to operate — be it from the outside or in the post. Unlike his time with the Sacramento Kings when Cousins was the focal point of the offense and double teams were the norm, DeMarcus will almost always command a one-on-one type of defense whenever Davis is on the floor, thereby providing him with a better opportunity of being more productive on offense. In the 2017-18 season, Cousins averaged 25.2 points per contest on 47.0 percent shooting and a career-best 2.2 three-pointers (on a 35.4 percent clip) alongside AD.
It is worth noting that on top of his scoring, Cousins also excelled in the other facets of the game during his time in New Orleans. Prior to his season-ending injury, the former Kentucky standout put up career-highs in rebounds (12.9), assists (5.4), and steals (1.6), so it is obvious that playing alongside Davis allowed Cousins to flourish.
Speaking of dimes, we all know that Boogie is indeed one of the best passing big men in the league today. During their short spell together with the Pelicans, Cousins and Davis abused the pick-and-roll, and this was something opposing defenses were not quite ready for. This is definitely something coach Vogel can exploit whenever these two bigs share the court together.
On the defensive end, Cousins and Davis absolutely terrorized their opponents. This duo proved every bit as towering as one would expect, and they definitely made life much more difficult for opposing teams. Davis, a three-time league leader in blocks, and a three-time All-Defensive team member is already quite a formidable defensive powerhouse on his own, and having another 6-foot-11 big playing alongside him only makes him even more of a threat on the defensive end.
Granted, defense is not exactly Cousins' strong suit, but surely, knowing at the back of his mind that Davis will be there to serve as somewhat of a safety net should be able to lift his defense to another level. And yes, it could be argued that Cousins made a more significant impact defensively during his time with Davis in New Orleans.
What's even more amazing is the fact that this partnership works as a two-way street. That is, not only does Davis make Cousins into a better player, but as a matter of fact, the same could be said on Cousins' effect on AD. Davis' numbers speak for themselves — he averaged a career-best 28.1 points per ballgame in the 2017-18 season with Cousins as his frontcourt partner. The six-time All-Star shot 53.4 percent from the floor overall, while also making 0.7 three-pointers per contest on 34.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc. This went along with his usual mind-boggling numbers that came in the form of 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game.
At the end of the day, it is always going to be an issue of Cousins' health. It is not likely that the Lakers will be getting the two-time All-NBA DeMarcus Cousins, but if Boogie is somehow able to channel the Cousins of old, then it would be very difficult to imagine how the Lakers will not end up as becoming the favorites to go all the way this season.
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