Report: Lakers rejected opportunity to sign Cousins for cheap

The Los Angeles Lakers apparently could have prevented the DeMarcus Cousins-Golden State Warriors alliance from taking place.

After inking point guard Rajon Rondo to a one-year deal, and having just renounced the rights to Julius Randle, the Lakers were reportedly presented with an opportunity to sign the All-Star center to a deal similar to the one he ultimately took with the reigning NBA champions, sources told the New York Times' Marc Stein.

Los Angeles ultimately passed, though, with Cousins moving on to secure a one-year, $5.3-million contract with the Warriors for their taxpayer mid-level exception. The Lakers had approximately $5.6 million at their disposal after agreeing to terms with Rondo.

It was previously reported Cousins was expected to meet with the Lakers at some point in free agency. The 27-year-old big man later revealed how upset he was over having not received any hard offers from any teams across the Association, which led to him reaching out to Golden State.

He averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists last season for the New Orleans Pelicans. It was on Jan. 26 when Cousins suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon, which could keep him out of action well into the 2018-19 campaign.