Report: DeMarcus Cousins plans to sign with Clippers

Free agent PF/C DeMarcus Cousins is planning on signing a contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Wednesday afternoon. Cousins needs to clear health and safety protocols before joining the team. Cousins has a handful of friends on the Clippers, including former teammates Rajon Rondo and Patrick Patterson. Cousins doesn’t really bring much to the team other than a locker room presence who may end up seeing some minutes in relief if the Clippers sustain injuries down the stretch.

Cousins started the season with the Houston Rockets. He believed he was joining a team with former UK teammate John Wall, plus James Harden and Christian Wood. Harden forced his way out of Houston, which didn’t rub Wall or Cousins the right way. With the Rockets in full-blown rebuild mode, Cousins was granted his release from the team. Cousins lands on the West Coast again. He has spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in recent seasons despite not playing much due to a major Achilles injury. Cousins also started his career on the Sacramento Kings.

Cousins will be on the depth chart in the front court behind Serge Ibaka, Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, Patterson and Ivica Zubac. So really the only way Cousins will get any playing time is if there are a ton of injuries. Morris and Ibaka are currently out. Batum is old. Zubac has played well replacing Ibaka, but the Clippers may use Cousins to get some of those guys rest before the postseason.