Cousins expected to debut Wednesday for Bucks

MILWAUKEE — Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer expects DeMarcus Cousins to be available Wednesday night against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.

The Bucks announced Tuesday they officially signed the veteran and four-time All-Star, who earned second-team All-NBA honors in 2015 and 2016.

Cousins will attempt to boost a Bucks frontcourt that is missing injured center Brook Lopez.

“DeMarcus is incredibly talented, and his size, toughness and experience will help us,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “He will provide added depth to our frontcourt rotation and we look forward to working him into our system.”

The Bucks (13-8) have won seven consecutive games but have been dealing with frontcourt issues due to the absence of Lopez, who hasn’t played since a season-opening victory over the Brooklyn Nets because of a back injury.

Cousins should help in that regard, even if the 31-year-old forward no longer is in All-Star form.

He played a combined 41 games with the Houston Rockets and LA Clippers last season while averaging 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 17.4 minutes.

Cousins holds career averages of 20.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocked shots in 606 regular-season games with the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Rockets and Clippers. He won a gold medal with the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.

In other moves, the Bucks signed Javonte Smart to a two-way contract and requested waivers on Justin Robinson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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