Basketball Basketball NBA free agency rumors: Lakers passed on signing DeMarcus Cousins in deal similar to Warriors' contract The Lakers could have signed DeMarcus Cousins, but decided not to pursue him. Thomas Lott 04 July, 2018 07:48 IST Cousins is currently sidelined with an achilles injury. - Getty Images Thomas Lott 04 July, 2018 07:48 IST The Lakers could have had DeMarcus Cousins on a deal similar to the one-year, $5.3 million deal he signed with the Warriors, according to the New York Times. However, the team decided to pass.Apparently, the Pelicans had an offer on the table before the year was over to Cousins. That deal was in the two-year, $40 million range. Cousins reportedly turned down that offer and when the season ended New Orleans took it off the table.Cousins now will look to recover from his Achilles' injury and get back to contribute to yet another Warriors NBA title run.What remains to be seen is the type of player Cousins will be when he returns.Cousins told the Undefeated he expects to be back for training camp, contradicting previous reports he will be back sometime around December or January. Read more stories on Basketball. For more updates, follow Sportstar on :