Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: DeMarcus Cousins Worth Trading For?

What Cousins Brings to the Table

DeMarcus Cousins brings a well-rounded skill set. He is undeniably a top 20 talent in the NBA, and he can influence games in a way that few others can.

First, he’s an excellent offensive player who can contribute in a variety of ways.

When he plays down low, Cousins is arguably the league’s most dominant low post big, able to use his enormous size and great strength to bully any center he faces.

One way he likes to score is by using spin moves, using his lower half and excellent footwork to get just enough separation to get off a shot. He also has great touch on his hook shot, able to make shots even through the toughest of contact.

He also has excellent footwork and technique which enables him to deceive his defender. Because he can score in a variety of ways in the low post, he’s able to keep defenders off-balance. Creep up to him and he can spin off of you and dunk or make a lay-up. If you lay off him, he can make a hook shot, hit the open jumper, or attack you with his sneaky speed and athleticism.

Cousins’ low-post game has earned high praise from many around the league, even drawing comparisons to one of the greatest centers of all-time in Shaquille O’Neal. When he plays down low, he’s nearly impossible to stop.

In addition to his low post skills, Cousins runs the floor very well for someone of his size, able to get chances in transition and make explosive cuts which catch defenses off guard. If others on his team draw the defense’s attention, Cousins has great instincts and understanding, often putting himself in the right position to get an easy basket.

A third way Cousins contributes is in stretching the floor. Unlike many bigger centers, like DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond, whose offensive game is completely limited to being within six feet of the basket, Cousins can also hit open jumpers. He didn’t shoot a great percentage form the mid-range this year, only hitting on 35.5 percent of his shots. However, much of this comes from his shot selection more than it does from a real limitation in skill.

He also showed marked improvement from three this year, hitting on 33.3 percent from deep on 3.2 attempts per game. His percentage may have been below the league average, but once again this can be attributed to shot selection AND the fact that Cousins only started taking threes regularly last year.

A fourth way Cousins can contribute on offense is through his passing. Because he often gets doubled down low, Cousins is asked to pass out of those situations and find the open man. He has exceptional passing skills and vision for a big, averaging over three assists in each of the past two seasons.

All of these skills were on full display in his career best performance against the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the season. In that game, Cousins posted 56 (!) points, going 21-30 from the field, contributing four assists, and getting to the line numerous times. It’s was undoubtedly one of the best offensive displays any center has had in years, and is a wonderful display of what Cousins can do when he’s confident in his game:

Another skill set Cousins brings to the table is rebounding. In this past year alone, Cousins averaged 11.5 boards per game, good for fifth best in the NBA. Like many other dominant bigs, Cousins knows how to position himself and attack the boards on the offensive and defensive end. He has excellent footwork and knows how to take advantage of his size and strength advantage when boxing out.

Cousins is also a respectable defensive player when he gives the effort. This past season, Cousins averaged 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks per game,  solid numbers for a big. He has good technique on his blocks, and has shown an above average ability to read the game and make plays. He’s also extremely difficult to back down because of his size and strength.

Overall, Cousins is arguably the NBA’s most skilled big man. There’s a reason why Cousins has been coveted by nearly every NBA team over the past five years. No one can match his offensive skill set, and given the right fit and attitude, he could turn a playoff contender into a title contender.

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