Former Los Angeles Lakers big man DeMarcus Cousins could be an addition for the Miami Heat for the playoffs this season.
After the Heat dealt Justise Winslow, James Johnson and Dion Waiters at the trade deadline, Pat Riley mentioned that there was enough room to potentially add a player from the buyout market in time for this season’s playoffs.
The NBA postponed the season during the period when the Heat were able to gauge who could be available.
However, the problem is making room for someone like Cousins.
“So unless the Heat cut a player (Solomon Hill? Udonis Haslem? Chris Silva?), another cannot be added,” according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Remember, a year ago, when the Heat had an open roster spot, they signed Kendrick Nunn on the final day of the 2018-19 season. By now, we know the rest of that story. So it’s not as if moves don’t get done just before the close of the regular season.”
The Heat are unlikely to cut Haslem, leaving Hill or Silva as the more likely cut.
Haslem just turned 40 years old on June 9 (now the only 40-year-old in the NBA) and is reportedly polling teammates about a return.
Cousins is currently a free agent after the Lakers waived him back in February.
A potential reunion with the Lakers also isn’t off the table for Cousins.
He has not played since the 2019 NBA Finals, as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered last offseason.
