Report: Mavericks believe they have strong chance to sign Cousins
The Dallas Mavericks have a major decision to make with the No. 5 selection in Thursday night's draft - one that will reportedly set the tone for the summer's offseason moves.
The team believes it has a strong chance of signing New Orleans Pelicans free agent DeMarcus Cousins this summer, league sources told The Athletic's Michael Scotto.
Whether Dallas is a realistic destination for the four-time All-Star, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, could depend on which player they select Thursday - or whether they trade down.
Texas center Mo Bamba has been linked to the Mavericks at No. 5. Beyond the in-state connection, the towering rim-protector has been on friendly terms with the team in recent days, joking that franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki "pinky sweared" he'd play another three years if the Mavericks selected Bamba.
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Drafting Bamba would likely preclude Dallas from signing Cousins or another traditional center.