For the first time since returning from an Achilles injury, Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins will be playing without a minutes restriction, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN. Cousins is averaging 23.4 minutes per night in 11 games and has rarely played more than 25 minutes. Coach Steve Kerr said game flow will determine how long Cousins is actually on the court, but there are no more medical restrictions.
“We’ll see how the games go,” Kerr said after today’s practice. “I don’t think we’ll change the plan too much in terms of how we’re going to play him in the rotations and all that, but I think once we get back into the rhythm we can absolutely play him for longer stretches, play him down the stretch if we like.”
He added that the plan was always to ease Cousins back into action for a month or so before unleashing him for full-time duty. The upcoming free agent has posted 13.9 PPG and 6.8 RPG in his limited playing time.
“He did a great job, DeMarcus did,” Kerr said. “So now we’re entering a different phase of the season. We’ll see how it goes, but nothing’s set in stone.”
There’s more Warriors news tonight:
- Golden State officials are as uncertain as anyone about Kevin Durant‘s plans for free agency, writes Frank Isola of The Athletic. “We have no idea what he’s going to do,” a team source said. “Everyone wants him to stay. There’s not much more we can sell him on. If he leaves, we’ll think of it as being lucky to have him for three great years.”
- No matter where Durant winds up, teammate Quinn Cook could be with him, suggests Marc Berman of The New York Post. Cook and Durant have been friends since their AAU days and may be a package deal in free agency. “Any time you get to play with one of your best friends at the highest level is obviously a great thing,’’ Cook said. “He helps me so much off the floor and even more on the floor. He gets me so many open shots. We have a great connection out there. We know each other. We’ve been playing together the past 10-plus years.”
- Two-way player Damion Lee appears to be the favorite to fill the 15th roster spot before the playoffs, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. The Warriors haven’t given up on Bulls center Robin Lopez, but he won’t be playoff eligible if he’s not bought out before March 1. Another center, such as ex-Clipper Marcin Gortat, is possible, but Slater states that Damian Jones could recover from a pectoral tear by May, which would provide backup help in the middle.
Cook is 25 and Durant is 30. How’d they play AAU together? 17 year olds don’t typically play with 12 year olds…
Cook meet Durant when he was 7 at the Seat Pleasant Activity Center in Maryland and they came up through the same AAU system as kids. Durant, who is five years older than Cook, has been an older brother figure to Cook throughout their lives, and he’d like for them to stay close on and off the court.
Durant should leave after Draymmond disrespected him on the bench.
Which time? The time at practice 3 months ago or the other time at practice 2 months ago or are you just talking about the time you saw on TV?
What about the time Durant disrespected green or other times this kind of thing happens?
When you’re with somebody a minimum of 4 hours every day for six months you’re going to have a blow up and yell at somebody.
He told Durant to leave that they’ve won without him. Do you know how degrading that is for a player of Durant’s caliber to hear that? Coming from someone like Green who is an all-star not a superstar.
Durant knows if he wins elsewhere he will enter the top 10 discussion all-time.
If he stays and they keep winning (which they will) and he hits Top 5 or better in all-time scoring (which he will) it won’t matter. He’ll be in the Top 10 discussion anyway.
I think he’s leaving because he’ll just keep giving Green,Klay, and Curry more titles and he’ll always be behind Curry.
He’s gone trust me, where he goes I do not know but my gut is telling me he will sign with the Wizards or Clippers.
I think he stays at least one more year. He’ll want to play in the new Arena.
Honestly with Porter off the books it could be interesting if the Wizards go after Durant or Cousins. Cousins played with Wall in college and has said he would love to play with him and Durant is from the area so its possible. Probably would have to dump Beal to make it happen and Im not sure thats a good move
I think he will play for Warriors for another year then leave. I don’t understand all the intricacies of the salary/roster issues, but I read if he leaves next year the Warriors have an issue with his super max contract and can’t replace him with an equal salary all-star. He’d leave the Warriors in a roster lurch. But, apparently after next season if he leaves the Warriors salary structure is a lot better off. They can bring in another top tier player.