DeMarcus Cousins' stint with the Milwaukee Bucks looks to be over, following ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski's report that the franchise plans to waive the big man.
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The Bucks are opting for roster flexibility ahead of Friday's January 10 contract guarantee deadline, with their roster now standing at 14 players. Had the Bucks not waived Cousins, his contract would have been guaranteed and counted against their salary cap and luxury tax bill for the remainder of the season.
"We wouldn't have been able to get through this difficult stretch of the season as successfully as we did without DeMarcus," Bucks General Manager Jon Horst told ESPN.
"At the end of the day, we made a strategic decision to have an open roster spot, but there's nothing that would prevent us from partnering with DeMarcus again down the road. He was so good for us, and hopefully we helped him too."
Cousins averaged 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds in 17 games (five starts) for the Bucks, with the news emerging shortly after he recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Toronto Raptors.
The 31-year-old has overcome a series of injuries in recent season, but proved to be a reliable option as a backup center for the Bucks, averaging 16.9 minutes per game. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, there is expected to be plenty of interest around the league for Cousins' services.
The Milwaukee Bucks plan to waive center DeMarcus Cousins, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Bucks are opting for roster flexibility ahead of league-wide contract guarantee date Friday. There’s expected to be interest in Cousins as a free agent.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2022
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