Lakers agree to deals with DeMarcus Cousins, Quinn Cook and JaVale McGee
The Lakers pivoted once again after seeing their big-time free-agent pursuit, Kawhi Leonard, go to the Clippers and have agreed to deals with center DeMarcus Cousins, guard Quinn Cook and center JaVale McGee.
The Lakers agreed to a one-year deal with Cousins, who spent last season on a one-year contract with the Golden State Warriors as he recovered from an Achilles tear he sustained the year before. Cousins didn’t play until mid-January and started in all 30 games he played for the Warriors. Cousins also missed a significant portion of the playoffs this spring with a torn quadriceps muscle.
He has history with another pending Laker. In February 2016, the day Cousins played in the All-Star game representing the Sacramento Kings, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. He and Anthony Davis spent a season and a half together. Before Cousins’ Achilles tendon injury, many thought he was having his best season, averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.6 blocked shots during his 48 gmes.
Cook and the Lakers agreed Saturday to a two-year, $6-million deal, while McGee will get a two-year contract for $8.5 million, according to sources who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Cook gives the Lakers more firepower off the bench. The 6-foot-2 guard won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2018.
In 74 games with the Warriors last season, he averaged 6.9 points and shot 46.5% from the field, 40.5% from three-point range. He has made 41.8% of his three-pointers over a three-year career.
Sign up for our Lakers newsletter »
He split his first season with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans before playing the last two seasons with the Warriors.
McGee joined the Lakers on a one-year deal last season and was a starter for 62 of the 75 games in which he played.
He averaged 12 points, two blocks and 7.5 rebounds per game. He joined the Lakers after two seasons with the Warriors in which he helped Golden State win back-to-back championships.
Twitter: @BA_Turner
UPDATES:
11:55 a.m.: This story was updated with news of DeMarcus Cousins’ deal.
10:43 a.m.: This story was updated with news of JaVale McGee’s deal.
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
