Subscribe
Follow Us
DeMarcus Cousins is back.
If you've been living in a rock over the past few weeks, that's one of the biggest headlines you might have missed. He made his much anticipated debut for the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 19, when the Dubs faced the Los Angeles Clippers.
Prior to his return, pretty much everything has been tough for Cousins. During free agency, no team was willing to take a risk in offering him a contract, knowing that he had torn his Achilles. It's understandable, as front offices weren't sure as to how good he'll still be after full recovery. Not even the New Orleans Pelicans, the team that Cousins played for when he went down, were willing to sign him.
And just when everybody thought he was done for the season, the Warriors took a gamble and signed him to a one-year deal.
It's not like the Dubs needed him. As a matter of fact, they will still be a championship caliber team without him. It was a low-risk, high-reward move for Golden State.
That eventually paid off.
In six games since his return, Boogie is averaging 13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists per game while shooting almost 50 percent from the field. While rust is still slightly obvious, the former All-Star has proven so far that he can still play at an elite level.
Now, it is worth noting that the Warriors have publicly stated that they believe that Cousins' stint with the franchise is just ‘one and done' deal, meaning he will look for a bigger paycheck next summer and they will let him walk so he can get that elsewhere. Given the fact that the Warriors would be dealing with the free agent situations of Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green next summer, re-signing Cousins might be one of their least priorities come July.
If Boogie will continue to improve this season, teams who were hesitant to sign him last year will start calling as soon as free agency hits roughly six months from now, as a lot of them will be looking for big men who can both be dominant in the paint and shoot 3-pointers.
Cousins can obviously do both.
Whether or not it's a one or two-year, big paying contract or a deal that will give Cousins long-term security, both will be on the table come free agency.
Question is, who will be the likely suitors?
Yep, almost every big name free agent is being, or has been linked to the Lakers.
Now we all know they are already preparing to assemble the most appealing package that they can offer to the Pelicans for Anthony Davis. However, if this trade doesn't come to fruition before the trade deadline, the possibility of Davis being dealt elsewhere is highly likely.
But Los Angeles will still be going after big name free agents like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving. But given the franchise's recent track record, they haven't been able to land most of the players they have targeted.
This could turn the Lakers' focus on Cousins, who will be able a decent contingency plan if Plans A and B doesn't work.
Boogie would be able to fit in with LeBron James, who, throughout his career, has always been a great passer. Now, imagine if Cousins is the one who's catching those alley-oop passes instead of JaVale McGee. He's still a significantly better player compared to all of the Lakers' centers right now, and he's coming off a torn Achilles.
The Lakers will have cap space which they can use to sign Cousins, but again, this will all depend on what will happen to the Lakers' plans within the next few months. And to be honest, even if they are successful in trading for Davis or if they sign one of their top targets this summer, they can still bring in Cousins for more than just the mid-level exception, if he will agree.
Hey, if the Warriors can form a 2K-like team, the Lakers can do that as well.
Pretty much like the Lakers, the Mavs haven't been a lucky buyer in free agency over the past couple of years. Heck, even DeAndre Jordan spurned them once after both sides verbally agreed to a contract a few years ago.
The difference this time around is that the Mavericks have a bright future, all thanks to Luka Doncic. The team will be looking for players that can and will be able to play with the rookie sensation as well as Kristaps Porzingis, whom they acquired from the Knicks on Thursday. They are on the process of rebuilding their team, especially since they no longer have future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki after this season.
Signing Cousins will make their rebuild period a little bit shorter.
However, it is worth noting that Boogie has built a reputation as being a locker room problem. Meanwhile, Dallas hasn't been able to handle such situations well. Rajon Rondo, Nerlens Noel, and even Dennis Smith Jr. have given the Mavs a hard time during their brief stints with the team. If the franchise decides to bring in Cousins, they should know what to expect.
Overall, Dallas would be a great destination for Cousins, and a potential long-term deal with the team can help them compete in the postseason once again.
Since we're talking about Cousins' attitude, it is worth noting that it was one of the main reasons why his stint with the Kings didn't end well.
The Kings are obviously on the rise, and bringing in Cousins could help make or break their plans of contending for a title. Sacramento has guys like Buddy Hield, De'Aaron Fox, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, all of which are young, promising individuals that have made significant improvements this season. Adding Cousins to that core would be pretty interesting.
Sacramento lacks a dominant big that can help put some pressure off of their young core. If the Kings and Cousins are willing to reconcile, this pairing will be pretty interesting and exciting at the same time. Plus, given that Cousins is still just 28 years old, he can be with this team for a few years to help them finally bring a title to SacTown.
Boogie's stint with the Warriors, a team that is known for its great locker room culture, can help him become a better leader for a young Sacramento team that is primed to make great playoff runs in the near future.
Article Continues Below
From the top team in the West, Cousins make a move to the East and join the top team in that conference as well.
The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo as the franchise's cornerstone, while Khris Middleton is a good second option on offense. This season, they have been one of the best two-way teams in the league, and adding Cousins, again assuming he's healthy, would just help them become better.
When healthy, Cousins can be a dominant force in the painted area, both on offense and defense. As mentioned, he can also hit 3-pointers. While the Bucks' current center, Brook Lopez, has been doing a decent job this year, he surely isn't as good as Cousins.
In order for the Bucks to be able to pay Cousins, they would have to let Eric Bledsoe walk away or convince him to re-sign to a cheaper deal. Now the most likely scenario this offseason is that Milwaukee can offer Cousins the mid-level exception, something that is most likely going to be declined by the big man. So if they can find other ways to free up cap space, then they might be able to bring him in.
Come on, wouldn't you be intrigued by the Greek Freak-Boogie (healthy-ish) pairing?
1. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors signed Boogie last summer without any expectations. They just wanted to help him recover and prove himself to the rest of the league. Aside from the Dubs, no other team even bothered to give him a call after the injury.
So what better way to repay them than to stay?
The belief in the Bay Area is that one of their marquee free agents will be leaving the team after this season. Whether it's Durant or Thompson, if one of those guys walk away, the Dubs will now have more money to sign Boogie.
But what if no one leaves? Well, Cousins can onlt re-sign with the Dubs for cheap, but he will be assured that the team will be in title contention for the next few years. Isn't winning a championship the ultimate goal, after all?
In addition, he's already been comfortable with the team, and he's likely going to win a title this year. Will he be willing to let go of that opportunity just for more money in another team that doesn't have a clear future?
Notable choices
Washington Wizards – One last attempt at making the John Wall-Bradley Beal pairing work, anyone? Maybe Boogie will be able to help, just put him in Dwight Howard's place.
Los Angeles Clippers – The team that has remained competitive despite not having an All-Star. Why not join the group of gritty, hardworking guys and help them go further in the playoffs?
San Antonio Spurs – There isn't any guarantee that Gregg Popovich will still coach beyond this season. If he does continue to call the shots, maybe they can pair Boogie with LaMarcus Aldridge to form a poor man's version of David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
Boston Celtics
Like the Lakers, if they don't get Anthony Davis, they could go after Boogie in free agency.
***
Even though no one's talking much about it lately, all eyes are on DeMarcus Cousins' continued growth and improvement this season. Teams are closely observing his situation with the Warriors.
Come July, we will all know who's ready to ride the Boogie bandwagon.
