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Adrian WojnarowskiESPN
All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, recovering from a torn Achilles injury, has agreed to a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, league sources told ESPN.
For the Warriors, already with a staggering lineup of All-NBA talent, the addition of Cousins gives him even more time to comfortably recover from his injury prior to returning next season.
Two-time league MVP Stephen Curry welcomed his new teammate shortly after the news broke.
The 3rd splash Brother 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Let’s go @boogiecousins
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) July 3, 2018
Cousins, 27, became expendable in New Orleans on Monday, after the Pelicans agreed to a deal with free-agent center Julius Randle.
The Warriors represent an outstanding chance to recover from his injury, show his health and rejoin the free-agent market again next year. A two-time all-NBA selection, Cousins averaged 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and a 35.4 percent 3-point shooting average last season in 48 games with the Pelicans.
The Warriors lost center JaVale McGee in free agency to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Golden State used its taxpayer midlevel exception to reach a deal with Cousins, who underwent surgery in late January to repair the torn Achilles. He has been rehabilitating the injury and is hoping to return some time in December or January.
The free-agent market dried up on Cousins, who struggled to find a team willing to give him a long-term contract at the kind of max-level salary that he would’ve received prior to the injury.