The Los Angeles Lakers made a splash landing small forward LeBron James. Unfortunately, it was soon overshadowed by the Golden State Warriors' acquisition of center DeMarcus Cousins.
The NBA world was baffled at how Golden State managed to add yet another star player to the mix. However, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Lakers were among the teams that cleared the way for Cousins to join the Warriors.
Word also reached us Monday night that LeBron’s Lakers, after signing Rajon Rondo away from New Orleans and then losing Randle to the Pelicans, had an opportunity to sign Cousins at a one-year price point similar to the one that landed him in Golden State. But I’m told the Lakers passed, clearing the way for the Warriors to infuriate the basketball public yet again.
The rumor deals a bit of a blow to Lakers fans and NBA fans alike. When Los Angeles agreed to terms with James, it came with the assumption that another superstar was on their way. Given the landscape of free agency after the first day, many presumed Cousins would be the next one to join the purple and gold. Instead, they were gifted with another predetermined outcome for this season.
It is unclear as to why the Lakers would deny signing Cousins to a similar deal the Warriors got. Perhaps the addition of all these charismatic players would have been too much for one locker room to contain. Regardless, the departure of power forward Julius Randle left a bit of a void in the frontcourt and the team's cap space. That said, pairing him with James would have been an intriguing move.
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