Report: Cousins expected to schedule meetings with Pelicans, Lakers

The New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers contacted center DeMarcus Cousins at the start of free agency and both are expected to meet with the center, sources told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears.

Cousins, who tore his Achilles tendon in January, is in a precarious position. At age 27 and with career averages of 21.5 points, 11 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, a player of his caliber would usually be in line for a maximum contract.

The injury, of course, throws a wrench in any contract negotiations. The Lakers were reportedly considering a short-term maximum contract for the big man, particularly if Paul George signed elsewhere. (The star swingman announced his return to the Oklahoma City Thunder shortly after free agency began on July 1.)

A deal of that nature would hedge against the possibility that Cousins never truly returns to form, but also increase the Lakers' attractiveness as a destination for some of this summer's other top free agents.