The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

Mavericks have second-best odds to land DeMarcus Cousins

By Jasmyn Wimbish

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 22: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on January 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 22: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on January 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Every summer Dallas is attached to one of the top two or three names set to be free agents, and every year they miss. DeMarcus Cousins is the latest name to be on the Mavericks’ wish list, and according to the betting folks in Las Vegas, Dallas has the second-best odds to sign the dominant big man.

Dallas Morning News reporter Eddie Sefko tweeted out the current odds for Cousins’ next destination on June 11th. While the Mavericks are No. 2, his current team, the New Orleans Pelicans, remain heavy favorites to re-sign him.

The Mavericks are one of the few teams this offseason who have enough cap space to sign a player to a max contract without having to make several trades. This could be why Dallas is so high on the list to nab Cousins.

Of course, Dallas’ free agency plans greatly depend on who they draft with the No. 5 pick on June 21st. If the Mavericks select Mohamed Bamba, which is the heavy favorite, then the chances of focusing on Cousins come July 1st could dwindle.

However, if Luka Doncic falls to Dallas like some are expecting, then the Mavericks will need someone to fill in at center, leading them to chase Cousins.

As one of the top centers in the league, Cousins provides a significant boost on both ends of the floor, and prior to a season-ending Achilles injury he averaged 25.2 points per game, 13 rebounds and a career-high 5.4 assists.

The Achilles injury is cause for some concern, however it isn’t uncharted territory for the Mavericks. Dallas signed Wesley Matthews in 2015 after tearing his Achilles, and although his numbers aren’t what they were in Portland, he is still productive.

Despite the high odds for Dallas, it will be difficult to lure Cousins away from New Orleans, especially after their surprising postseason performance. If Dallas can catch the big fish they’ve desperately been after, a pairing of Cousins, Dennis Smith Jr. and whoever they draft with the No. 5 pick would be a sight to see for years to come.

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