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DeMarcus Cousins is a great fit with the Detroit Pistons

By Nicolas Henkel

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to the start of a basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on February 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to the start of a basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on February 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons will have a surplus of cap space this offseason, and while it may be unlikely, they could hit the jackpot.

Heading into the offseason, the Detroit Pistons have a long list of tasks they’ll hope to achieve. Fans have their favorite potential draft targets, and some of their favorite free agent picks as well.

As it always happens though, not everyone is going to be happy. The Pistons pick won’t please everyone, their signees are going to ruffle some feathers, and their direction by the end of it will be met with inevitable criticism.

However, one move specifically could prove to hold a general sense of optimism. Signing DeMarcus Cousins. Admittedly, some people will be torn over this idea initially, but they’ll come around on it. Let’s talk about why that is.

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It’s been a rather challenging few years for Cousins. He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans where he was able to thrive alongside Anthony Davis, proceeded to turn down a contract extension worth $40 million, and then ruptured his achilles tendon.

That summer he went on to sign with the Golden State Warriors on a Mid-Level deal. He spent the season rehabilitating but was able to appear in six games in the NBA Finals, but tore a muscle in his quad.

After that, he went on to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, rejoining Davis and now teaming up with LeBron, Cousins was aiming to have a bounce back season but instead suffered another major setback, a torn ACL.

We’ve now arrived at a point in his career where there’s no telling whether or not he’ll ever be the same player he was in Sacramento. History tells us he won’t, but history isn’t gospel.

It’s relatively unknown where Cousins plans on taking his talents next season, whenever that season may occur. Some have speculated that he could return to the Lakers, and at the very least we may assume that he’ll likely sign with a contending team.

The flip side to this is having him sign with a lower market team, somewhere with a bit less to lose. A team like the Pistons, who will some money to spend, and can afford to give him the minutes he needs to prove his worth to the aforementioned contenders.

The number one concern that seemingly everyone has raised with this possibility is that “we need to give minutes to the young guys.”

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Acting like there’s no middle ground between playing Christian Wood 48 minutes and 0 minutes is absurd. No one is expecting Cousins to play 30 minutes every night. We just need him to fill the void with quality bench minutes.

His offensive versatility blends with what Dwane Casey hopes to achieve, and while it’s currently up in the air as to whether or not Thon Maker will return, Detroit won’t have many options at center as it is.

Cousins would be a cheap and effective way for the Pistons to navigate their rebuild. If he isn’t able to stay healthy, something that the franchise has struggled with in recent years, it’s not the end of the world.

If he’s signed to a Mid-Level deal for one season, it hardly impacts Detroit negatively. Conversely, people are failing to realize what the benefit of this signing could be.

If Cousins plays well, and in turn the Pistons find some success, he’ll have established himself as a reliable big who teams can rely on in the postseason. If he’s able to stay healthy, his value will only go up more.

You get to trade him for more assets. The one thing that Pistons fans are constantly clamoring for.

If he’s unable to get a contract with a contending team, which seems unlikely but could happen given the uncertainty with the salary cap, he could use a lower level team to prove to those contenders that he can still play.

It’s a win-win scenario with Detroit. If they’re able to pursue him, it’s something that they should absolutely entertain.

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