The Houston Rockets will launch pivot DeMarcus Cousins on Tuesday after a mutual decision between the team and the great man to split up, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Cousins, whose veteran minimum wage of $ 2.3 million was guaranteed by the Rockets last week as a sign of gratitude, will explore the interest of other teams.
Cousins, 30, four-time All-Star who was trying to revive his career after a series of serious injuries, averaged 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, while kicking just 37.6% off the ground in 25 games with the Rockets .
Sources said Cousins was not happy with his role as a support center behind Christian Wood, wanting more playing time. Rockets coach Stephen Silas did not consider playing Wood and Cousins together, as he wants to use Wood only as a center.
The Rockets lost their last eight games after Houston’s top scorer and rebound fell with a sprain to his right ankle. Cousins, whose defensive limitations were a problem, averaged 12.1 points and 9.0 rebounds during the period before missing out on Monday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls due to an heel injury.
Cousins has jumped through the league for the past few seasons after breaking the Achilles tendon during the 2017-18 season while with the New Orleans Pelicans. He then signed with the Golden State Warriors, but broke his quadriceps muscle in the 2018-19 season. Cousins joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2019-20 campaign, but tore up his ACL before he even dressed for the team.
He has averaged 20.8 points and 10.7 rebounds in his career since being called up by the Sacramento Kings with fifth overall choice in the 2010 draft.
Athletic first reported the news of Cousins’ imminent release.