DeMarcus Cousins on free agency: Open to Pelicans return, but wants to play for a contender

There are a few caveats to that decision, though, as the 27-year-old laid out the "ideal free-agency destination" in an interview with The Undefeated.

He said he wants to go somewhere where he would be appreciated and to a team that's "ready to contend," but will ultimately do what's best for himself.

"I'm going to make the absolute best decision for DeMarcus Cousins," Cousins said. "Would I like to go back to New Orleans? I'm very open to that. I love what we created. I love what was created after I went down. I would love to be part of it. But I'm going to do what's best for me, and I feel they'll do the same."

Cousins is coming off a 2017-18 season cut short by a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered Jan. 26 in a game against the Rockets. Despite the injury, he is still expected to be highly sough after in free agency.

The four-time NBA All-Star told The Undefeated he expects to be ready to play by the start of training camp, just months removed from season-ending surgery on his Achilles.

“That’s my own personal goal, so we’ll see what happens," Cousins said. "That’s what I’m working on. The doctors haven’t really given me an answer because of the time I injured myself and the amount of time that I have."