NBA rumors: DeMarcus Cousins agrees to one-year contract with Lakers

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The Lakers are getting the (NOLA) band back together.

It had been reported that DeMarcus Cousins was waiting on the Lakers before signing a free-agent contract. With the Lakers missing out on Kawhi Leonard, Cousins reportedly agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Lakers, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday, citing league sources.

Cousins now rejoins former teammate Anthony Davis, whom he had success playing alongside in New Orleans. He reportedly had a number of suitors, but Davis convinced his friend the Lakers were the right choice, Wojnarowski reported. 

The Kentucky product becomes the second Warrior to leave the Bay for LA, with point guard Quinn Cook reportedly agreeing to sign a two-year deal to join the Lakers as well.

Cousins joined the Warriors last offseason on the mid-level exception after suffering a ruptured Achilles in February of 2018. 

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He returned and averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30 games played for the Dubs.

Cousins suffered a torn quadriceps muscle in Game 2 of the Warriors' first-round NBA playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Boogie returned in the NBA Finals, but clearly wasn't healthy as he struggled for most of the series against the Raptors. 

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Cousins now will get another one-year contract to show teams he's back to the elite level he played at while alongside Davis with the Pelicans. 

The Lakers were in need of interior players, and with the market mostly dried up, this was a perfect fit for both sides.

If Cousins can get healthy and return close to the Boogie of old, the Lakers will have a steal. But that's a big if.

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