Cousins' addition gives the Warriors a potential starting lineup that would include five current All StarsNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Warriors signed free agent C DeMarcus Cousins to a one-year, $5.3M deal, in turn "stunning the NBA universe," and were able to do so because co-Owner Joe Lacob and President of Basketball Operations & GM Bob Myers "went for it, again," according to Tim Kawakami of THE ATHLETIC. Lacob and Myers have "done this before -- trying to acquire Dwight Howard in 2013, landing Andre Iguodala immediately after Howard nixed it, then plotting to land Kevin Durant two years before he became available." It is the summertime, when the "players rest" and Lacob "aims for the stars." It "doesn’t matter how many he already has." Lacob is a venture capitalist who "loves action, and believes that if you sit still, you’ll only get worse." So the Warriors "were going to try even harder to check with everybody on their list in free agency, and they were going to offer" $5.3M and "see if any really good player would take it." Sources said that Warriors execs are "almost as stunned as everybody else right now." This is Lacob and Myers "maximizing their position, and doing everything possible to elongate this dynasty" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/2).
LIGHT YEARS AHEAD: In New Orleans, Clyde Verdin writes the deal "sent shock waves around the NBA" (NOLA.com, 7/2). Also in New Orleans, William Guillory writes Cousins "decided to make the NBA's latest dynasty even stronger" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/3). In DC, Tim Bontemps notes at some point next season, the Warriors will be "in line to have Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Cousins available to start." The Warriors have "gone from the Death Lineup to the Hamptons 5 to, with this quintet, the Death Star Lineup" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/3). In San Jose, Mark Medina writes the Warriors' starting lineup "resembles a Team USA roster" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 7/3). Also in San Jose, Dieter Kurtenbach writes the Warriors' '18-19 season "will either result in all-time greatness and a third-straight NBA title or a spectacular implosion" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 7/3). NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote Cousins joining the Warriors is the "least conceivable idea" in the history of the NBA (NBCSPORTSBAYAREA.com, 7/2).
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? In S.F., Scott Ostler asks, "Have the Warriors finally gone too far?" The team will have "five certified All-Stars in the primes of their careers, packed into one starting lineup." Ostler: "Is that too much?" It is "possible that the Warriors have sucked all the excitement" out of the '18-19 season. Ostler: "I don’t remember a team in any sport going into a season being a prohibitive favorite to win it all as the Warriors are now" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 7/3). SI.com's Ben Golliver wrote the "filthy-rich Warriors just got even richer." The team has "exploded the league’s hope for something resembling competitive balance" (SI.com, 7/2).
DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS: ESPN.com's Zach Lowe notes Cousins signing with the Warriors "predictably set off much talk about how they have broken the NBA." Lowe: "Allow me to play turd in the punch bowl: I am not sure how much this really helps the Warriors in the short term, and it doesn't help them at all beyond next season" (ESPN.com, 7/3). In New Orleans, Ron Higgins writes salary caps "don't matter for the rich major-market teams." The "big-city boys always have surplus revenue to pay the luxury tax bill when they leapfrog past the salary cap to buy the best and biggest guns for hire." Those teams "squash the mini-market franchises like New Orleans" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/3).
TWITTER REAX: WFAN's Mike Francesa: "While at first glance Cousins signing with Warriors appears to be overkill and unfair, in reality it will mark the beginning of the end." The Athletic's Jay King: "We really now live in a world where DeMarcus Cousins makes less to play basketball than Doug McDermott." ESPN Radio Orlando's Nick Gryniewicz: "The #NBA players are to blame for Golden State having his opportunity. The players demanded no salary cap smoothing in 2016. Due to that summer, so many teams are capped out & Golden State can sign DeMarcus Cousins to this deal." Podcaster Kevin Jones: "Cousins for 5.3 million. Jimmy G for a 2nd round pick. Bay Area front offices stay outmaneuvering your favorite sports team" (TWITTER.com, 7/3).
