Report: DeMarcus Cousins cut, re-signed by Nuggets

DeMarcus Cousins was cut by the Nuggets on Friday and then re-signed to a standard 10-day contract, Katy Winge of Altitude TV tweets. The signing was confirmed on NBA.com’s transactions log.

Cousins signed a 10-day contract under the hardship exception on January 21. That contract was initially reported as a standard 10-day deal and the team’s press release did not indicate the hardship exception was used. However, if it had been a standard 10-day, the team wouldn’t have needed to re-sign him within that time frame.

Jamal Murray was still listed on Friday as being in protocols, so perhaps this is an indication he’ll soon be removed from that list.

Cousins has appeared in four games as Nikola Jokic‘s backup, averaging 6.3 PPG and 6.5 RPG in 12.5 MPG.

Cousins, 31, spent a little over five weeks with the Bucks from late November to early January, averaging 9.1 PPG and 5.8 RPG in 17 games (16.9 MPG) for the defending champs. Milwaukee opted to waive the veteran center before his salary for 2021-22 could become fully guaranteed, making him a free agent.

He can sign one more standard 10-day deal with the Nuggets before they must decide whether to give him a rest-of-the-season contract or waive him.