The Miami Heat have kept their eye on Demarcus Cousins since the beginning of this season. Last off-season, the Heat were keen on signing Cousins; however were later reluctant due to his nagging, consistent injuries that have continuously partaken in the downfall of his career. Due to the multiple Achilles injuries and other injuries, such as when he pulled his hamstring in the 2019 playoffs, most teams wanted to sign a big name like Cousins. However, they felt that it was better to either go after a different player or to keep what they already have. The Heat was fortunate to sign Jimmy Butler, who changed the entire atmosphere of the Heat organization. His hard work and aspiration to win basketball games have allowed other players such as Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, Derrick Jones Jr., etc, to expand their skill set and work just as hard if not harder than Jimmy Butler. The Heat’s young core went from having little to no direction last season to having a target that they plan on hitting when the season returns. With the potential signing of Cousins, what does this entail for the Heat’s chances this season?
Before Cousin’s suffered many Achillies tears and injuries, he was easily the best center in the NBA. His time with the Sacramento Kings was only flashes of what his true potential was. Even though Cousin’s will be remembered as a King, his most impactful season that he played was when he was with the New Orlean’s Pelicans alongside Anthony Davis. Their duo was short-lived; however, NBA fans got to see the greatest form of Cousins as he had a historic stretch of dominating games. His production was staggering, however, on January 26th, 2018, Cousins would not only lose his opportunity in receiving a max contract that he deserved but also appeared to have played the last professional basketball game of his career. The story of Cousins nagging injuries and reputation in the league was unfortunate and unjust considering where he was playing. Imagine playing for an organization with no concrete plan or direction while also housing a superstar name who wants to bring the team that drafted them into the promised lands? Instead of honouring his commitment, the Kings would trade Cousins away and continue to tank in the Western Conference.
Cousins has had a robust career since the beginning. From getting drafted by a dysfunctional Sacramento Kings team to suffering various injuries, Cousins, when its all said and done, will be one of the greatest what-if stories NBA fans never got to see. However, with COVID-19 still at large, it benefited injured players to heal and, as a result, allow them to touch the court once again when the season returns.
Even though Demarcus Cousins is not an actual member of the Los Angeles Lakers, he is a member of the practice roster hence why the Heat are allowed to sign Cousins in the first place. The inclusion of Cousins to the Heat would automatically entail that he would come off the bench behind all-star center, Bam Adebayo. The Heat’s current back-up center is Myers Leonard, and although he does have an outstanding three-point shot, Leonard is simply a bellow average center in the NBA. Incorporating Cousins would only make the Heat tougher and more competitive, considering how focused he is on winning a championship.
The idea of Jimmy Butler and Demarcus Cousins being teammates should bring chills down your spine. Both Jimmy and Cousins are tough athletes who have the mindset of doing whatever it takes to get the job done. The Miami Heat would still have their main duo of Butler and Bam, but the inclusion of Demarcus Cousins would make the Heat a much more of a dangerous force in the Eastern Conference. Miami has already defeated the first-seeded Bucks twice while also being named the best three-point shooting team in the entire league! The inclusion of Cousins on the Miami Heat would strengthen the depth; however, it wouldn’t change the fate of their season. Cousins would be a vital piece to the Heat’s rotation as he would provide inside scoring while also creating very strong screens. However, Cousins is not the all-star player; the NBA once knew, and even though he could still be a solid player, chances are he might end up getting injured again depending on the circumstance. His locker room presence would provide toughness and persistence, and his experience of being a superstar center would help Bam Adebayo’s production on the court.
The Miami Heat are already one of the better teams in the NBA as they are currently sitting as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. They have defeated worthy opponents throughout the season while also losing games that they should have won, but that’s natural for an organization to face. With the NBA having a central focus on the obsession with shooting three’s and spacing, the Heat are sitting pretty as they lead the NBA in three-point rating. Their chemistry is what led them to this position in the first place, and although Cousins does have his history in the NBA, all of his criticisms that he has received have either been heavily exaggerated or was misunderstood. Here’s what some NBA players have to say about Demarcus Cousins as not just a player, but also as a human being,
Demarcus Cousins on the Miami Heat would be an exciting story-line for the NBA; however, the impact he would have on the Heat would be very different. Cousins would have the role of being a veteran while also mentoring the young players offensively rather than playing a superstar role. The Heat would improve with this signing, but would Cousins make the Heat a legit contender? The answer is no.
