DeMarcus Cousins Signs One-Year Deal with Houston Rockets

DeMarcus Cousins with USA Basketball in 2016
DeMarcus Cousins with USA Basketball in 2016. Photo by Heuler Andrey/Agif/REX/Shutterstock

Center DeMarcus Cousins has reached an agreement to play for the Houston Rockets next season.

According to reports, the former All-Star has signed a one-year contract and will play on the veteran’s minimum.

Cousins missed all of last season with a torn ACL after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 30-year-old center was named to the All-Star team four times in his career while playing with the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans.

However, Cousins has dealt with a slew of serious injuries over the last three years, which has limited his productivity. Despite that, he still has career averages of 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

The Rockets hope that Cousins will be able to return to his pre-injury form and become a force under the basket for them.

Houston is coming off a season in which the offense committed to a small-ball attack but is obviously looking to change that this season. They have already signed two centers this offseason, Cousins and former Detroit Pistons center Christian Wood, who received a three-year, $41 million contract from Houston.

Houston has been the worst rebounding team in the NBA since January 31. Adding Cousins and Wood should help rectify that.