The Golden State Warriors found a sneaky loophole in signing free agent DeMarcus Cousins; which is awful for the NBA moving forward.
The rich get richer, and that is true in spades in regards to the Golden State Warriors, who now boast five elite NBA All-Star players in their starting lineup — after signing former New Orleans Pelicans Center Demarcus Cousins to a one-year, $5.3 million deal.
Take a look at the (projected) starting lineup for the Golden State Warriors in 2018-19.
- PG: Stephen Curry: 26.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 42.3% 3FG
- SG: Klay Thompson: 20 PPG, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 44.0% 3FG
- PF: Kevin Durant: 26.4 PPG, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 51.6% FG
- PF: Draymond Green: 11 PPG, 7.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists
- C: DeMarcus Cousins: 25.2 PPG, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists — before his season-ending Achilles injury.
The Golden State Warriors roster is virtually an NBA 2K video game roster when you turn the “force trades” setting off. It’s not fun in pretend, and even less amusing in real-life.
Warriors signing DeMarcus Cousins pic.twitter.com/WWkIt1ba22
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 3, 2018
Now, the Golden State Warriors are the NBA version of Thanos from the Marvel franchise — a villain with all of the power, making the narrative boring for the audience.
How in the world did this happen? How did the Golden State Warriors snag a top-three NBA caliber center for such a low price?
Reports claim that no one besides the Golden State Warriors gave DeMarcus Cousins an official contract offer — allowing him to sign a “mid-level exception” style contract.
In laments terms, the Golden State Warriors were able to sign DeMarcus Cousins for next to nothing, while staying under the NBA salary cap regulations.
DeMarcus Cousin made over $18 million last year, so his $5.3 million in 2018 is laughable. All of these NBA Players made more than Demarcus Cousins did in 2017-18, who averaged fewer points than DeMarcus Cousins did, combined, in 2017-18.
I know the circumstances are entirely different and the NBA was under a different dictator, I mean Commissioner, but how did Chris Paul‘s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers get vetoed in 2011, while this travesty is allowed?
Now, the Golden State Warriors are not only a virtual lock for the title this upcoming season, but they may accumulate the greatest season in NBA history — which is somewhat exciting on the surface but will lose it’s edge when the Splash Brothers and company separate themselves from the pack by the second week of the season.
Demarcus Cousins is an economic genius, and I give him major props for landing with the Golden State Warriors, which will turn into a massive payday for him in 2019 and beyond — if he’s able to stay healthy.
However; for the NBA as a whole, this signing made a legitimate sport a complete and utter joke.
Categories: NBA
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