The Houston Rockets have decided to guarantee the salary of DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the season a week early, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The NBA’s guarantee date is actually Feb. 27, but teams have to part ways with players on non-guaranteed deals by Feb. 24 to avoid full-season cap hits.
Cousins is due to make $2.6 million this season on his one-year contract. He has shown a couple of flashes his old self, but usually is more of a solid veteran backup than the regular All-Star he once was. He is averaging 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25 games during his first season with the Rockets.
Cousins, 30, has done an admirable job filling in for starter Christian Wood, though, and is viewed as someone that can help the Rockets make a push to return to the playoffs alongside veteran guards John Wall and Victor Oladipo.
Both Cousins and Oladipo will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season.
The Rockets (11-17) have lost seven straight.
