DeMarcus Cousins was scooped off the free agent market quickly by a Golden State Warriors front office that struck while the iron was hot.

Yet this left many wondering how Cousins was still available and reportedly had no offers before getting on a phone call with Warriors GM Bob Myers to seal the deal.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Cousins was tainted by his season-ending Achilles injury and the reputation that precedes him, raising red flags as a potential volatile signing.

Via Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report:

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“The injury played a big part in depressing the market for him, [alongside] the fact that there wasn't salary cap space in a lot of places,” said Wojnarowski on ESPN's Get Up! “But here's the reality that Cousins had to deal with, and now has to start rectifying in Golden State: His image. There were teams with space who did not want him in their locker room or organization.”

The Warriors took a flyer on the condition of his health, as well as his detailed history of being a locker room killer, trusting that head coach Steve Kerr (and his impending juicy new contract) could take care of this situation by integrating him into the rotation.

Cousins missed 34 games last season due to injury, including the postseason, but posted 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks playing alongside Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

If he can be half of the double-double monster he was last season, the Warriors are in good shape to make another deep playoff run.