DeMarcus Cousin's future in Los Angeles seems to have been destined to fail from the very start. The former franchise player is now at the mercy of the Laker's top brass and his recent issues could accelerate his departure.

In a story by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the former All-Star was always on the chopping block after sustaining an ACL injury while playing a pick-up game in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old center is still in his prime, but injuries and off-court distractions have made his value plummet in the eyes of NBA executives.

DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins will make his debut for the Warriors against the Clippers on Jan. 18. In this picture, Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a picture during the Golden State Warriors media day in Oakland, California, Sept. 24, 2018. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Cousins signed a $3.5 million one-year deal with the Lakers this offseason in hopes of winning a championship. Now, his options are slowly slipping away, especially with the signing of Dwight Howard.

Moreover, serious allegations have lately hounded Cousin's after TMZ reported that he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend in a phone call. Local police in Mobile, Alabama, issued an arrest warrant for the troubled star for domestic violence.

His past actions have put him in a tough position, the NBA and the Lakers are currently investigating the matter. Pincus said that Los Angeles' initial plan was to "keep him under contract for as long as possible, but releasing him was always on the table."

He added that the Lakers would find an opportunity to "replace him with a better player" granted if he does not perform expectations. Dwight Howard's arrival could pretty much end the discussion.

Last year, Cousin suited up with the Golden State warriors but failed to win a championship. He suffered an Achilles injury in the playoffs but returned in the finals against the Toronto Raptors.

He is just years away from his best season as a member of the Sacramento Kings. In 2016, he averaged 27.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 45.2% at the field and 35.6% behind the three-point line.

Since then his numbers have regressed partly due to injuries and off-court distractions. Cousin's was once considered as one of the best centers in the NBA, that discussion seems to have been long gone.

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