Teams heading to Orlando for the NBA restart can improve their rosters starting Tuesday. The league will allow for a one-week transaction window, during which all 30 organizations can finalize rest-of-season contracts, among other things. John Hollinger of The Athletic listed his top 20 free agents to sign ahead of the restart, and it includes DeMarcus Cousins.

Cousins had not played this season due to an ACL injury suffered last summer, and he was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers in order to free up room for Marcus Morris.

Hollinger noted Cousins is the biggest name available, but also said fit may be an issue given concerns about his “mobility” on the defensive end and the absence of a pick-and-pop game. As a result, Hollinger named three teams as the best potential fits for Cousins:

“[T]here’s the larger issue of whether it’s worth it for him to sign for relative chump change at the end of this season rather than just continuing to rehab and getting ready for next season. Assuming he’s willing, I could see a fit in San Antonio (who won’t have LaMarcus Aldridge), Dallas (who won’t have Dwight Powell), or Boston.”

San Antonio seems to make sense. Cousins is much like Aldridge in his ability to step out and make shots from the perimeter.

The Mavericks already have plenty of front-court depth even in Powell's absence, but perhaps Cousins' low-post abilities and physicality on the block would make for a nice complement to the duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Kentucky basketball, Wildcats, John Calipari, DeMarcus Cousins, Matt Barnes, DeMarcus Cousins in Kentucky uni and John Calipari with Kentucky basketball arena in the background

Scotty White ·

John Calipari. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins in Kentucky uniforms

Ryan Bologna ·

John calipari, Deion Sanders, Demarcus Cousins, Kentucky basketball, arkansas basketball

Jackson Stone ·

Boston might be the best fit. The Celtics' strong team defense might negate some of the aforementioned mobility issues, and Cousins would give them a legitimate scoring threat on the block.

But as Hollinger also suggested, there is the chance Cousins elects to sit out when the NBA resumes play and preserve his long-term health.

If he is insistent on playing, however, Cousins is likely to have his share of suitors. The Lakers might even consider bringing him back into the fold.