After missing the last season due to a torn ACL, DeMarcus Cousins is back in action and will be in Houston Rockets uniform for at least a year. Boogie joined a squad that is undergoing a drastic change, and it's a possibility that James Harden will exit from the team soon.
It would be a shame to see Cousins and Harden playing on the same side for only a short time, and many are wondering in the NBA if Boogie is doing his share to convince Harden to stick with the Rockets jersey.
The Houston front office is hoping that with the arrival of Cousins and John Wall in the offseason, the former MVP, who made it clear he wants out of the organization, will have a change of heart. The scoring leader might be persuaded that with the new acquisitions, the Rockets have a good shot to win the NBA crown. And it could help if the former All-Star will do some form of swaying on Harden.
However, the big man said he is hands off on the situation. Per Clutch Points, Cousins thought it wise not to meddle in the personal and professional affairs of his teammates. Harden made the decision to seek a different life out of Houston and the best thing to do is respect that, said Cousins.
In the end, it is Harden's call what works best for him, and rightly so Boogie is not about to enter that private space.
The Rockets superstar has made sure in recent days that his desire to move away from Houston is properly understood. Harden kept a distance from all team functions but reported for work before the start of the preseason games.
Still, it is understood that the 31-year-old guard is not staying for long. As the same report pointed out, the arrival of Cousins and Wall made a difference in the Rockets gameplay and the proof was the recent road game. But there is no indication Harden will stay put.
For Cousins though, the matter of Harden leaving or staying with the team is inconsequential. His focus is proving that Houston did the right thing to trust him with a contract. And so far, Boogie is showing the form that made him one of the top centers in the league and earned him four All-Star appearances.
ESPN said the 30-year-old seemed to inch closer to his winning form, sinking 14 points as the Rockets overwhelmed the Chicago Bulls, 124-104. Cousins said the game was a good showing for him and the rest of the squad.
Boogie stressed that the team will further improve and with the form displayed by the big man, it's highly likely that he is on track to regain his All-Star status during the regular season, added the report.
