Rockets, Cousins talk trade, other options
The Rockets and center DeMarcus Cousins have discussed options including trades and a waiver that would help him with his rebooted career, but the expectation is that he will start on Monday against the Bulls, a person with knowledge of talks said.
The Rockets this week guaranteed the rest of his one-year, $2.3 million contract in part in appreciation for his work and willingness to try to make it work within the Rockets’ style, though it would have become guaranteed automatically by next weekend.
The Athletic first reported that the Rockets and Cousins plan “to part ways,” citing the Rockets desire to go with a younger lineup.
Talks began, however, before the Rockets signed Justin Patton to a two-way contract. He and Cousins are the Rockets only healthy centers.
Starting center Christian
Wood, who has missed the past seven games with a sprained right ankle, is not close to returning with only the most optimistic hope giving him a chance to play before the first half schedule is complete on March 3 before the week-long All-Star break.
The Rockets have made it clear that they would work with Cousins to be traded to a team that would work better for him, even if it brings little in return.
Though Cousins has been productive, averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game, it has been a difficult fit with the Rockets wanting him to be a stretch five and play fast, styles that do not suit him well.
The defensive fit has also been poor, with Cousins needing to work in more traditional drop coverages, as opposed to the variety of switching or trapping defenses played with Wood or with the small lineups with P.J.
Tucker or Jae’Sean Tate at center.
In the Rockets’ seven-game losing streak since Wood was hurt, the lineup of Tucker, Tate,
Eric Gordon and John Wall with Cousins at center has been used more than any, but has been crushed, outscored by 39.5 points per 100 possessions, with a defensive rating of 148.3.
Oladipo could return Monday against Bulls
Rockets guard Victor Oladipo, who had missed the past three games with a strained right foot and likely would have missed one or both games to complete the week had they not been postponed, was cleared for Saturday’s practice, leading to optimism he would be able to play Monday against the Bulls.
Rockets coach Stephen Silas said the chances of Oladipo playing Monday “looks pretty good.
“He went through everything we went through,” Silas said.
“It’s just a matter of how his foot responds to a full practice. Today’s practice was very much put together in a way it’s similar to a load he would get in a game.”
Building continuity might help chemistry
With Victor Oladipo expected to return to the lineup on Monday, though center Christian Wood remains out the Rockets could begin a stretch to build continuity that has been lacking. The Rockets have used 16 different starting lineups and on Monday will change starters from the previous game for a ninth-consecutive game.
The lack of chemistry has been clear.
“Perfect example today in practice, Eric (Gordon) and Tuck (P.J. Tucker) have this like language that they speak to each other that makes sense to them,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “We were working on a dribble handoff drill. They are so connected and so much on the same page, all they have to do is give each other the look and they know what the coverage is going to be. Because they played lots and lots of minutes together and have been in tons of situations.
“We as a group don’t have any of that. The look that Vic gives
John Wall doesn’t mean anything. You see teams that have been together a long time and have had steady lineups throughout the season are at the top of the league. Look at Utah. Utah has had most of the same guys play this season and have been together a long time and you see it.”
The most any current fiveplayer group has played together — Tucker, Gordon, Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Jae’Sean Tate
— has been a total of 44 minutes this season.
“You build chemistry you go out there and compete with,” Rockets guard David Nwaba said. “To have guys like C-Wood out throws off rotations. We have to adjust.”