Where Should Boogie Cousins Play When the NBA Restarts?

With the restart coming in the NBA, hopefully, there have been some guys that have already said they will sit out, and some players who weren't signed, or just signed before the shutdown, they are now available to be picked up by one of the twenty-two teams headed to Orlando, again, hopefully.

Davis Bertans is sitting out, and I get it. He has had his best year, he will never be as highly regarded and sought after and the Wizards are going nowhere. Trevor Ariza has opted to sit out because he is going through a nasty custody battle, and he wants to spend time with his kid. Those guys I get their reasoning. I'm sure some other players, with about as much clout as them, will decide to sit as well. But the big name I saw today, and oh, by the way, tomorrow is the deadline for players to let their teams know if they are not going to go to Orlando, so I am sure we will see some more names, was Demarcus Cousins.

So, I assumed Cousins was done for the season. Then a report came out that said he said he was going to get himself ready for next season and forego this restart. But then another story came out that said he wasn't fully committed to sitting out, and he may field some offers. That all got me thinking. First off, I thought he was done for the year, but in reality, it has been about a year. He came back last season early from a torn ACL and played, not well, but still played. He has had more time to heal now. He may be in better shape than he was at this time last season when he had to play for Golden State in the Finals. Who knows. He is also still a very, very high volume low post scorer. He was one of the best for a minute there, but injuries have slowed him down to a halt. He isn't the guy he was in Sacramento, but he is still a quality player, and an above average scorer. He can help a team immediately that needs an enforcer, rebounder and a big down low. I do honestly believe that. I am still a Boogie fan. I feel like he has been treated unfairly, and that he can still play offense, and rebound, at a high level. With all that being said, and the injury stuff, and his rehab, I also started thinking about teams that could use him if he wants to play.

The number one obvious choice is the Lakers. He was there, he knows the system, Dwight Howard may not play and LeBron likes him. He has also played alongside Anthony Davis before, and they had a bit of success. He would be a solid replacement for Howard if he were to opt out. I actually think he is a better scorer. Dwight Howard has been so much better on defense, and really accepted his role there. But, Boogie is an All Star and young and can play. Personally I'd rather have Boogie. I also think the Clippers could use him. They have good bigs, but no one like Boogie. Ivan Zubac is fine, but he is just fine. Montrezl Harrell is a super high energy rebounding machine off the bench, but he is small. Other than that, it is Kawhi and Paul George. And while they're great, I think Boogie could be a third or fourth option that they crave. I think Sacramento could use him. They have a crew of young guys, a new head coach and they need a solid big. Sure it would be weird to see him in that uniform again, but almost everything has changed since he was originally there. It is pretty much brand new. And I would love to see him paired with DeAron Fox is a pick and roll. Orlando could pair him with Vuvcevic, and that would be like the poor man's version of what the Pelicans did when they paired him with AD. Vucvevic is more of a scorer, like Boogie, so they may get eaten up in the post. But, they could each put in 20 to 30 a night, especially with all the time off every player has had. People will not want to body him. Hell, I could go on and on with teams I think could use him. Utah could pair him with Gobert, and that would be menacing. Denver could replace Paul Milsap with him and have a younger, more athletic big next to Jokic. Boston is begging for a big man, and the two have been linked prior. Toronto may even want to put him out there with Marc Gasol, and let Serge Ibaka roam for open jumpers on offense, and hunt for blocks on defense.

I feel like Boogie should be a hot commodity if the restart happens, and if Boogie wants to play. I still have faith in him. I still believe in him, and I wish nothing but the best for him. We will just have to wait and see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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