NBA Rumors: Rockets Ready To Take Risk With Cousins, Discussions Held, Report Says

The Houston Rockets have made NBA headlines for all the wrong reasons lately with James Harden and Russell Westbrook asking to be traded. At any rate, it appears the franchise is headed for another rebuild. Young players will be targeted, but Houston also needs some veterans. DeMarcus Cousins could be a curious part of that process.

The Rockets have opened discussions with the four-time NBA All-Star, Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported, citing an unnamed source. This comes not long after the club added Christian Wood to its ranks.

It should be noted that the Rockets are taking a gamble on Cousins, who was frequently hit by injuries last season. He suffered an Achilles injury before the start of the last NBA season and remains questionable for the start of the 2020-21 season.

If the Rockets do sign him, there is no telling when the 6-foot-10 center can officially suit up for them. But then again, Houston could take a chance and invest in Cousins not for the coming season but for future games.

Assuming that Harden, Westbrook and some other players leave Houston, the Rockets are unlikely to fare well this 2020-21 season. They need to take in new players and assemble a new crew that will jumpstart a new era of Rockets basketball.

Cousins remains linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, but several signings may have dampened his chances. Dwight Howard, the same guy who replaced “Boogie” last season, is gone and is now with the Philadelphia 76ers.

However, the Lakers will be adding Montrezl Harrell to the roster next season. The 2020 Sixth Man of the Year awardee is coming off a fine season with the Los Angeles Clippers but opted to sign with the purple and gold.

Aside from that, the Lakers have other targets in mind. Marc Gasol is said to be on its radar, someone who could bolster the purple and gold defense tremendously despite his age.

Given these scenarios, Cousins is more likely to end up with another team – especially if he is still unfit and not ready to play when the 2020-21 season kicks off. If Houston is willing to take that chance and wait, the Rockets may look at Cousins as an investment for the future rather than expect an immediate turnaround this coming NBA season.