not convinced that BOS really wanted Cousins after signing Baynes. First, the Cs could have offered more $ than GSW if they wanted him (since Cs had full mid level exception). Second, if Cousins was really serious about Cs, I assume conversations started before yesterday but once they signed Baynes, every dollar they paid Cousins is a dollar less than they could pay Smart.
I don't think they wanted him for full MLE. Just because you don't want a guy for the max you can offer him doesn't mean you don't want him.
That would be surprising unless Smart plays for the qualifying offer, or they dump Morris off and take back no salary.
I don't think it is out of the question he takes the QO. The market seems relatively dried up at this point
I think there’s a very good chance he plays to hit the market next offseason. It should be flooded with money unlike right now.
I don't think it is either, the post i responded to said Danny is going to sign Smart, I took that as more than just taking the qualifying offer. I could be reading that wrong.
I’m sure he got higher offers, but probably believed it’s better long-term for him to win and showcase himself on an elite team and then hit free agency next year.
He also said this:
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23980153/demarcus-cousins-agrees-join-golden-state-warriors-1-year-53-million-deal
Does their hall of fame, 2-time
Curry missing 31 games and coming back for the meaningful playoff rounds does not constitute bad injury luck. If Durant missed 31 games including the entire playoffs and Curry missed the whole season, then you would be talking about bad injury luck. Dubs were well on the left side of the bell curve.
I dont know about the ring and black mark parts, but I think that playing reasonably well and being healthy and being a good basketball citizen on a demanding (basketball-wise) team will go a long way towards a big payday.
I have good news that will take the sting away. We didn't come in second on Durant, and he said as much. He was unimpressed by TB12's gaze.
This is the part that confuses me. Even if they aren't winning a title this year, the Lakers could've gotten Boogie and had the entire year to evaluate his achilles before deciding whether to commit to him long term next off season. Bonus points for whatever he contributes in the playoffs. Instead, they watch GS pick him up on the taxpayer MLE. I don't know what Magic is thinking, because Lebron can say what he wants, but I don't think it is realistic for him to "wait til next year" given his age, and thew realities of the Western Conference.
This^^^^^ right here.
Like I said earlier in the thread, there wasn't a whole lot of interest in a healthy Cousins at the deadline.
Danny's been great, but this is a cop out. He shouldn't need Boogies camp to notify him of interest. Phone works both ways.
This doesn't strike me as the Celtics being pissed they missed out on him though. More like they put it on their list of things to consider depending on how Smart, etc. play out and when he quickly signed with the Warriors they shrugged and moved on. As others have pointed out it just seems like there really wasn't much of a market for Boogie and it's obvious the Celtics had passing interest at best.
This is my take as well. With Horford, Baynes, Theis, and Sleeping Beauty, the need for Cousins was minimal. My guess is that Ainge had modest interest and the Warriors simply beat him to the punch while he worked on other things.
I'll take it even further. How about Ainge had NO interest and upon being informed that Boogie was desperate for a team to love him simply said all the right things until the Warriors signed him.
Ainge could’ve acquired Boogie pretty easily when he was dealt to New Orleans. I just don’t think Boogie is his type of player.
I agree. I don't think a notorious malcontent coming back from a crippling injury is what Danny wants on a team full of developing stars.
The Pels did the right thing. They played better without Boogie, AD was better at Center and not wanting to lock up a head case for big money is probably a good idea. They may end up missing Rondo more, he was great in the playoffs.
I'm guessing that Boogie is not Brad Stevens' type of player either. It will be interesting to see how Boogie relates to Kerr and how he functions in the Golden State locker room.
Per Mark Spears, he spoke with Steph, Dray, and KD before signing and was moved by how totally stoked they all seemed to be to have him aboard. Kerr apparently gave enthusiastic buy-off too. Spears also said he thought Boogie had no problem fitting in and accepting a much more limited role than he's used to (occasional 10-point games, e.g.) though I wasn't sure if that was Boogie's actual words or Spears conjecture.
When Sacramento gave away Boogie for a song and a Hield, it was pretty clear that Ainge and Stevens thought Boogie was locker room poison -- and that was even before they decided that IT was locker room poison. Now both Boogie and Tiny are damaged goods... and still locker room poison.
Not so sure about his attitude, but they did play better after he got hurt. That can't help your reputation.
What I read is that per NBA signing rules GS won't be able to give him big money next year (not more than 120% of this year's salary, if I recall correctly) if he flourishes, so I assume the same would have been true for the Lakers.
I'm starting to re-think Boogie, and view him more as a kook than locker room poison.
Yea, but GS is over the cap. The Lakers will still be under so they could offer him more. I just figured they'd want their medical staff to have a year with him. Looks like it's moot though.
Nope. In fact, he was starting to turn his image around and then the injury happened.
True. Not a locker room problem.
If that match up happens the competing "Warriors are ruining the NBA" vs. "Ugh, I hate Boston" will be interesting.
