Should the Chicago Bulls take a look at DeMarcus Cousins?

Former All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins might not be participating in the NBA’s Orlando restart. Should the Chicago Bulls take a look at him for next season?

The NBA restart in Orlando is creating some unique situations for not only the teams involved but the individual players as well. Many teams are reaching out to free agents in hopes of bolstering their bench units before trying to make a deep playoff run.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, DeMarcus Cousins has been one of those guys teams are reaching out to. Charania also originally reported that Cousins has decided to sit out the rest of this season to continue rehab ahead of the 2020-21 season, but Cousins’ agent has told the LA Times that the big man hasn’t made a decision yet.

If Cousins is considering just focusing on next season, let’s do the same. Should the Chicago Bulls consider making him an offer?

Should the Chicago Bulls take a look at Boogie Cousins?

DeMarcus Cousins is at a critical point in his career. Prior to the 2017-18 season, he was one of the most dominant players in the league, making two All-NBA teams and having multiple 25-point, 10-rebound seasons. Then, the injuries started piling up.

First, it was a torn Achilles for Cousins — an injury that usually isn’t good for anyone, let alone a heavy guy that likes to use quickness and agile footwork to his advantage. Then, Cousins came back and clearly wasn’t the same. He couldn’t move as well and was simply a shell of his former self. Before he could get himself back into actual playing shape, he tore his left quadriceps. He ended up coming back for the Warriors in the Finals, but once again, didn’t look like the same guy he was prior to getting hurt.

Last summer, Cousins signed with the Lakers in hopes of helping LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Co. win a championship, but the injury bug bit Cousins yet again when he tore his ACL in a preseason workout in August.

Cousins is still only 29 years old so there’s plenty of time for him to get back to his All-Star self, but is it actually realistic that that happens? How many 6-foot-10, 270 -pound guys in NBA history can you think of that had three serious leg injuries in a two-year span and then returned to an All-Star level of play?

That’s part of why the Bulls should steer clear of Cousins. They also already have two promising young centers on their roster in Wendell Carter Jr. and Daniel Gafford. They simply don’t need to take a chance on an injury-prone Boogie. I’d much rather have Carter and Gafford soak up all of the minutes at the center position.

If Cousins for some reason was tied to the city of Chicago and wanted to play for the Bulls more than anything, I suppose I would be okay with signing him to a short, cheap deal, but I don’t see that happening. I’m guessing at this stage of his career, Cousins wants a chance to play for a team that will contend for a title. Sadly, the Bulls aren’t one of those teams.

As a basketball fan, I really want Boogie Cousins to return to his All-NBA-level self, but it’s not a situation the Bulls should get involved with. Chicago fans should just cheer from afar.