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The NBA world was turned on its head yesterday as the defending champion Golden State Warriors announced the free agent acquisition of All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.
Cousins was an unrestricted free agent, but the wide consensus was he would sign a lucrative deal with the highest bidder. Instead, Cousins agreed to a one year, $5.3 million contract in what turned out to be an absolute steal for the Warriors.
There were murmurs around the league the New Orleans Pelicans or Los Angeles Lakers were front-runners to sign the talented big man. But out of nowhere, the Warriors scooped in and obtained his services. There were reports the market had run dry for Cousins as he ruptured his Achilles tendon last season, but even so, it’s hard to believe no one was willing to throw a significant amount of money at arguably the most talented big man in the association.
Be that as it may, Cousins is now a member of Warriors, and will eventually form the most talented starting five in NBA history alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant. The league has been put on notice, and the Warriors will welcome him with open arms when he does return to action.
Speaking of returning, it is widely anticipated and first understood that Cousins would return to action sometime between December and February, as whoever landed him will take an utmost caution with his rehab and return to the hardwood. This was still the case until Cousins himself put forth a surprising claim stating he was aiming to be ready for training camp when speaking to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears for the first time about his new ball club.
New Warriors big man DeMarcus Cousins to The Undefeated on his return from Achilles injury: "I'm still shooting for training camp. It's not BS. It wasn't a comment just to sound good in free agency."
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 3, 2018
“I'm still shooting for training camp,” Cousins said “It's not BS. It wasn't a comment just to sound good in free agency.”
Cousins went on to say it was a “personal goal” of his to return to the court earlier than expected.
It’s hard to say if we will see the “Boogie” of old upon his return, as this sort of injury can have a lasting effect on a player’s career like, most notably, Kobe Bryant in 2013, but with the cautious approach the Warriors will take with him, and the luxury of not having to rush him back in the hopes of winning games, the team and Cousins find themselves in a perfect position.
