4 things DeMarcus Cousins would bring to the Rockets

1. Versatility

Although Boogie Cousins is built like a traditional center, he has the type of game that’s similar to Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, from the standpoint of being able to run the offense.

Cousins has averaged three assists per game throughout his career, and has improved those numbers of late. Over the course of the 2016-2018 seasons in which he played for the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans, Cousins averaged five assists per game, and even became the primary ball handler in New Orleans.

Cousins was third on the Pelicans in assists during the 2017-18 season and he only played 48 games, which is beyond impressive. Cousins season was ultimately cut short by a ruptured Achilles injury he suffered during a game against the Houston Rockets.

During the previous season, which was the 2016-17 season, Cousins was eighth in assists in New Orleans despite only playing in 17 games. Cousins’ playmaking ability was most on display during the 2016-17 season, as he led the Kings in assists per game from the center position. Cousins also finished second on the Kings in total assists during the 2013-14 season.

But Cousins’ versatility isn’t just limited to his ability to pass, as he is a reliable 3-point shooter as well. DMC actually led the Kings in total 3-pointers made during the 2016-17 season in spite of only playing 55 games for them. On top of that, the Kings had stellar shooters like Buddy Hield and current Houston Rockets sniper Ben McLemore on the roster, yet Cousins finished with the most treys that season.

This means Boogie led the Kings in scoring, blocks, rebounds, and 3-point shooting that season while only playing roughly half of the year with them, prior to getting traded to New Orleans. Over the course of the latter half of the season in New Orleans, Cousins averaged the most 3-pointers per game, while leading the team in steals and rebounds.

Cousins would do the same thing during the 2017-18 season with the Pels, as he was the leader in rebounds per game, steals per game, and 3-pointers per game. We could even use his sole season in Golden State as an example of this versatility as well, as Boogie led the Dubs in rebounds per game, blocks per game, and was tied for second in steals.

We don’t exactly know what will happen with Cousins or whether he’ll be talked out of staying with the Lakers (which is odd since they just cut him), but if the Rockets have a shot at Boogie, they would be wise to take it.