With NBA free agency still open, several teams aim to fill their rosters with veteran players on minimum deals.
Even though most teams are close to completing their rosters ahead of the new season, there are a few spots still available.
A few days ago, Hedgeout.net presented the best remaining free agents in the market, a list headlined by Dennis Schroder and Collin Sexton.
In this article, we present two veteran big men that are still free agents and can help their teams as backup centers coming off the bench.
DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins is a four-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-NBA big man, who remains a free agent this offseason.
Cousins spent the previous season with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Denver Nuggets, playing a total of 48 games and averaging a combined 9.0 points and 5.6 rebounds, on 46% from the field, in about 15 minutes on the floor.
He had a solid presence on both ends and was a key player in the second unit, especially during his time with Denver.
The veteran big man was the backup center of Nikola Jokic and helped the Nuggets reach the NBA playoffs for another season.
So far, he hasn’t attracted significant interest from teams mainly because of his injury history.
From 2017 to 2020, the 12-year NBA veteran suffered three major left leg injuries that derailed his career. Cousins was a dominant force on the floor since joining the league in 2010, but injuries slowed down his game.
DeMarcus Cousins may not be able to play at the highest level, as he used to do until 2017, but he can still be a valuable bench talent for a contending NBA team.
So, expect him to attract interest from contending teams as we are getting closer to the start of training camps in September.
Dwight Howard
Just like DeMarcus Cousins, Dwight Howard also remains a free agent, after spending the previous season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Entering Year 19 in the NBA, Howard knows the best years of his career are through. At 36, he doesn’t expect to play big minutes anymore, but he could help out a contender off the bench.
Last season, he played 60 games for the Lakers and averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds. This was his third stint with the 17-time NBA champions (2012/13, 2019/20, 2021/22), while he was a member of the team that claimed the 2020 NBA championship.
At the moment, Dwight Howard has been linked to the Brooklyn Nets and he would be happy to join the squad.
He would be a great fit to a team loaded with stars and veterans, which is now focused on the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving trade saga.
The 19-year NBA veteran is ideal for an off-the-bench role to help his team rebound and protect the rim on defense, while finishing attempts above the rim offensively.
If Dwight Howard signs with the Nets, he will replace veteran big men Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, who remain free agents as well.
Dwight Howard’s name has been mentioned in blogs recently as a potential Brooklyn Nets off-season signee.
I asked him if he had any interest in the Nets. His response to @BallySports was: “Yes I am.”
“Would love that.”
Howard’s an NBA Champ & an eight time All-Star. pic.twitter.com/OV0VelA5Nq
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, M.A. (@ScoopB) July 27, 2022
