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The Los Angeles Lakers Add Danny Green and DeMarcus Cousins to their Star Studded Roster

Introduction

The Los Angeles Lakers Add Danny Green and DeMarcus Cousins to their Star Studded Roster

The Los Angeles Lakers have made a couple of big time moves to help add to their already star filled roster. Even with the acquisition of LeBron James last year, it was obvious that their team did not have enough talent and veteran presence to contend with the very strong Western Conference of the NBA.

During the 2019 NBA offseason, the Lakers have made several small moves to tighten up their line up. They resigned shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He reportedly received a two year $8.2 million contract that included a player option. Los Angeles also resigned center JaVale McGee as well. His deal is a two year $16 million agreement. These are the small pieces to the puzzle that LA is hoping will help support the stars they keep bringing aboard.

Danny Green

The Lakers realized that they needed to pick up some other big name players to fill out their roster once Kawhi Leonard turned them down to join the LA Clippers with Paul George. They had the money for Leonard so they decided to use it on several players as opposed to just one baller.

They picked up veteran free agent guard, Danny Green, who had just won the NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors. The Lakers signed him to a two year deal worth $30 million. Green will provide his new team with solid shooting especially from three point range. He is also a very good defender as well and will fit in as a top notch role player for this new look Lakers squad.

Danny Green's Career Regular Season Statistics

Season Tm G GS MP FG FG% 3P 3P% 2P 2P% FT FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2009-10 CLE 20 0 115 15 0.385 6 0.273 9 0.529 4 0.667 17 5 6 3 5 9 40
2010-11 SAS 8 0 92 17 0.486 7 0.368 10 0.625 0   15 2 2 1 5 7 41
2011-12 SAS 66 38 1522 211 0.442 102 0.436 109 0.449 79 0.79 228 86 58 46 67 107 603
2012-13 SAS 80 80 2201 297 0.448 177 0.429 120 0.48 67 0.848 244 141 92 54 94 124 838
2013-14 SAS 68 59 1651 218 0.432 132 0.415 86 0.46 50 0.794 229 104 65 61 76 107 618
2014-15 SAS 81 80 2312 322 0.436 191 0.418 131 0.466 111 0.874 343 158 101 87 93 163 946
2015-16 SAS 79 79 2062 211 0.376 116 0.332 95 0.448 34 0.739 303 141 79 64 75 141 572
2016-17 SAS 68 68 1807 176 0.392 118 0.379 58 0.42 27 0.844 224 124 70 57 76 120 497
2017-18 SAS 70 60 1791 217 0.387 116 0.363 101 0.419 50 0.769 249 110 63 80 74 122 600
2018-19 TOR 80 80 2216 293 0.465 198 0.455 95 0.487 37 0.841 317 126 73 53 75 171 821

DeMarcus Cousins

The other big name player they chose to pursue was DeMarcus Cousins. Los Angeles signed him to a one year $3.5 million contract. This will reunite Boogie Cousins with superstar big man Anthony Davis who was his teammate with the New Orleans Pelicans. Cousins, Davis, McGee, and LeBron James will be a tough group of guys to score against down low. They all play superior defense and can rebound the ball efficiently as well as block a lot of shots.

One thing to keep in mind about Cousins is his health. He has suffered an Achilles tear which side lined him for a year in the past. It is yet to be seen how well he recovered from that set back as he tore his quadricep in the 2019 NBA playoffs shortly after his return from the Achilles injury. It will be interesting to see how dominant a force he can still be in today’s game.

DeMarcus Cousins' Career Regular Season Statistics

Season Tm G GS MP FG FG% 3P 3P% 2P 2P% FT FT% TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2010-11 SAC 81 62 2309 432 0.43 3 0.167 429 0.435 276 0.687 699 204 85 68 268 332 1143
2011-12 SAC 64 62 1950 448 0.448 2 0.143 446 0.453 262 0.702 703 102 93 75 170 257 1160
2012-13 SAC 75 74 2289 482 0.465 4 0.182 478 0.471 312 0.738 746 199 108 55 225 269 1280
2013-14 SAC 71 71 2298 591 0.496 0 0 591 0.499 432 0.726 831 207 109 91 251 270 1614
2014-15 SAC 59 59 2013 498 0.467 2 0.25 496 0.469 423 0.782 747 210 90 103 254 241 1421
2015-16 SAC 65 65 2246 601 0.451 70 0.333 531 0.473 476 0.718 747 214 101 92 249 236 1748
2016-17 TOT 72 72 2465 647 0.452 131 0.361 516 0.483 517 0.772 794 332 100 93 269 278 1942
2016-17 SAC 55 55 1891 505 0.452 95 0.356 410 0.482 423 0.77 583 266 75 74 207 203 1528
2016-17 NOP 17 17 574 142 0.452 36 0.375 106 0.486 94 0.777 211 66 25 19 62 75 414
2017-18 NOP 48 48 1737 406 0.47 104 0.354 302 0.53 294 0.746 617 257 79 76 242 183 1210
2018-19 GSW 30 30 771 178 0.48 26 0.274 152 0.551 106 0.736 247 107 40 44 72 109 488

Cousins’ Reaction

"That's part of the reason why we wanted to become teammates again," says Cousins. "We realized how much better we made one another and how much we made the game easier for each other. We both appreciate each other's presence.

"To add LeBron James to the mix, his résumé speaks for itself. One of the greatest players ever to play the game, added to that, it should be an exciting season."

"The roster is incredible," Cousins explained. "I think we got a lot of talented pieces on paper. On paper we look legit, we look like we have a great chance of competing for a title. It's obvious that the game isn't played on paper. It's our job to come together and mesh and get on the same page and build a chemistry and go out and win games. As far as on paper, we look great."

"Actually, the game that I tore my quad ... that day [I was] saying how amazing I felt," exclaimed Cousins. "I really started feeling like myself again, and some unfortunate things ended up happening that night. I was really feeling good at the time. That is kind of a good thing because I know it's possible to get back to that place. That is the positive I took out of it."

"I'm working my tail off every single day," says Cousins regarding his health. "My quad is 100 percent healed. I'm building it up every day and building up my lower body every single day, and I'm getting stronger, getting in better shape. My plan is to come into training camp in tip-top shape. My goal is to play 82 games this season. I want a full season of health and going to the playoffs, and whatever happens happens."

"I've kind of been doubted my whole life, and I use that as fuel to continue to push every single day," Cousins stated. "One of my biggest fears is to be proven wrong by somebody that doesn't agree with me or doesn't have my best interest in heart.

"So, with that being said, I'm always seeking to prove those type of people wrong."

Sources:

“Cousins thrilled to join 'incredible' Lakers roster”, Ohm Youngmisuk, espn.com, July 11, 2019.

“NBA free agency: Danny Green explains why he signed with Lakers”, Chelsea Howard, sportingnews.com, July 11, 2019.

“Lakers add Green, re-sign Caldwell-Pope, McGee”, espn.com, July 6, 2019.

“Danny Green”, basketball-reference.com, July 11, 2019.

“DeMarcus Cousins”, basketball-reference.com, July 11, 2019.