The Rockets announced that they are releasing Cousins after 25 games with the team. The former four-time All-Star center averaged 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and shot 37.6% overall with Houston, which signed him as a free agent in late November.
Best of luck, @boogiecousins! pic.twitter.com/xWLYvKE4Tp
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) February 23, 2021
Shams Charania of The Athletic was first to report the news.
The decision to move on from Cousins was not a shocking one for Houston, as reports of he and the team planning to part ways surfaced over the weekend. The Rockets have struggled this season, starting off 3-6 as talk of trading former Kia MVP and Houston star James Harden hovered over the team.
Since Harden was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 13, the Rockets have gone 8-12 and are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak. Cousins had a smattering of good games with Houston this season, including a 28-point, 17-rebound, five-assist performance on Jan. 23 vs. Dallas. That game was a throwback to his heyday as an All-Star with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.
Per Charania, the Rockets are making the move to release Cousins so he can have time to find a team on the open market. Houston guaranteed Cousins’ $2.3 million salary last week and has nothing but positives to say about his approach to the season, Charania reports.
Houston has several youngsters in the frontcourt — including Christian Wood, Jae’Sean Tate, Danuel House — it is looking to give more of an opportunity to and moving on from Cousins helps facilitate that notion.
