The New York Knicks could shift their attention to giving DeMarcus Cousins an expensive one-year deal if they fail to sign Kevin Durant, sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein on Wednesday.
New York's primary free-agent targets are Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kawhi Leonard after the team cleared enough space to add two max-contract free agents. However, if the Knicks strike out while pursuing marquee players, the team is reportedly expected to focus on short-term offers to maintain flexibility.
Cousins signed a one-year deal with the Golden State Warriors after suffering an Achilles tear in January 2018 while playing for the New Orleans Pelicans. He returned this past January, appearing in 30 regular-season games before suffering a setback at the start of the postseason.
Although Cousins eventually returned for the NBA Finals, he remains a risky long-term signing for interested teams due to his significant injuries.
When healthy, the 28-year-old is among the best big men in the Association and a consistent triple-double threat.
Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists during the 2017-18 season with the Pelicans before his season-ending injury.
