When DeMarcus Cousinsshocked the NBA by signing a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, it came with the understanding that this partnership would only last one season. The Warriors were finally addressing their one glaring weakness at center with Cousins, who is arguably the best player at the position when healthy. Meanwhile, Boogie would be given the opportunity to cast aside doubts about his ability to return to form after suffering a torn Achilles last season.
On Thursday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that the Cousins experiment has all the makings of a one-year rental because the organization will not be able to afford him this offseason.
If Cousins can eliminate injury concerns this season, he will look for a long-term contract that will get him, in the words of teammate Klay Thompson, "paid handsomely." With over $107 million tied to Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala alone next year, the Warriors would rather negotiate a new deal with Thompson before reaching out to Boogie.
But does that mean that Cousins is guaranteed to be out of the picture? Not necessarily. If Boogie remains with the Warriors past this season, it will mean that Thompson chose to sign elsewhere, or Durant opted out and left the team. Regardless of the scenario, the team will be considerably different with either Klay or KD gone. It's still, however, a team that we wouldn't immediately count out of winning an NBA title.
