DeMarcus Cousins was close to joining the Nuggets much sooner, but the Bucks moved in and signed him first, he said in an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape. Cousins worked out for Denver general manager Calvin Booth in late November, calling the process “real quiet and hush.” He said the Nuggets wanted to sign him at the time, but didn’t have an open roster spot.
The Bucks apparently heard about the workout and brought their entire staff for a look at Cousins. They signed him immediately after his audition and he played there until January 6, being waived before his salary would have become guaranteed for the rest of the season. Cousins still doesn’t understand what went wrong in Milwaukee.
“They put all their cards on the table, told me they needed me,” he said. “They were even talking long term, and that’s why, like I said, that whole situation, it just didn’t make sense. What disappointed me the most was more so just going through my grind. For me, everything felt right. We were winning games. I showed that I’m healthy. I fit in Milwaukee perfect next to the guys that were out there. I put up numbers. Everything worked out. I don’t know. Just for it to happen the way it did.”
Cousins adds that the Nuggets called him the next day, so he never gave any thought to retiring. He signed three 10-day contracts with Denver before receiving a deal that covered the rest of the regular season.
There’s more on the Nuggets:
- Coach Michael Malone stressed the need for unity after his team melted down in Monday’s Game 2 loss to the Warriors, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Not only was Nikola Jokic ejected, but Will Barton and Cousins had a heated exchange on the sidelines in the third quarter and had to be separated. “We’ve got to stick together,” Malone said. “We can’t splinter in adverse times. I just want to make sure as we get on this plane to go home that we get on that plane together, knowing that we have a chance to get our first win at home in a few days. That’s our whole focus.”
- Jokic is in danger of becoming the sixth player in history to lose in the first round in the same season he was named MVP, per Sam Amick of The Athletic. Jokic, who was announced Sunday as one of the finalists for the award, has been frustrated by the officiating in the first two games of the series, saying, “I mean, it’s pretty much everything,” when asked what led to his ejection.
- The Nuggets need more production from Aaron Gordon, who has missed 13 of his 19 shots so far and has a combined 15 points in the two games, notes Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “Aaron Gordon has to be in attack mode,” Malone said. “I don’t want him settling for 3s. Put people in the rim; that’s when Aaron Gordon is at his best.”
If MPJ & Murray can return for them they still have a good chance at beating the Ws. If not then they still might get a game or 2 but zero chance at advancing. Future is bright in Denver tho. They got prime Larry Bird at center, as well as an elite scoring guard & elite scoring forward returning from injury. As long as those guys get/stay healthy the Nuggets will be title contenders going forward
Jamal Murray is not returning.
They’re gonna sit out all year…then jump into the playoffs down 0-2, and suddenly make the difference? There is no chance. And the dubs are WAY into Denver’s head now.
You are heavily sleeping on those 2 guys if you don’t think they’d make a huge difference in this series
The last game Murray played in was April 12 2021. Porter’s last game was over 6 months ago. You think they can just walk into a playoff game tomorrow and make any kind of a meaningful difference?? Yikes
The Nuggets future definitely looks bright if they can both get back healthy next year, definitely pulling for them.
Neither player will be close to 100% if they come back this series which wouldn’t make much of a difference. Nuggets need to get healthy for next year and bring in some defense. They lack defense is why they are getting torn up by GSW.
Good chance at beating the warriors? LOL
I just had to laugh … but it’s all about fandom! Have to root for your team regardless the odds.
Lotta ifs, buts, and coconuts for Denver
I’m actually kinda concerned
Im probably in the minority but I think Joker holds off on an ext and at least enters the market as a free agent after 2023 ….Doesnt mean he wont sign back w Denver just holds off on the ext to see what next years playoffs look like (hopefully healthy)
He’d be costing himself a boatload of money if he did that. Nugs can pay him much more than anyone else.
Lol Warriors are not losing in the first round.
Murray isn’t coming back.
Yeah, it took Klay a few months to get back into the groove. Not sure you want someone who’s been out for so long just jumping back into a playoff game.
How many years now have we all been saying the future is bright for the nuggets? At some point the future has to pass.
They’re still very young.
Nuggets were gonna lose anyway without their two best shooters (and half their killer PnR duo). But somehow the league has got to figure out how to referee a guy who plays like Jokic. This is a center who has the ball in his hands more than anyone in the league, who plays mostly in the paint making power moves, and who somehow still averages only half the free throws of Joel Embiid, whose main offensive weapon is his jumpshot. Jokic got 8 last night and it was ridiculous. Man was being clobbered all game.
As I’ve been saying, Barton is terrible and this team is going no where.
Cool take
Healthy, DEN was a team with a special superstar with a roster around him that included some other elite talent, but was generally poorly constructed. Right now, DEN is just a team with a special superstar with a roster around him that’s comprised of pedestrian talent and poorly constructed. Hopefully, DEN can get a win at home and avoid a sweep. Beyond that, it’s probably best for everyone that they get put out of their misery quickly.
Interested in your Joker ext thoughts DXC ?
Does he sign it this offseason or play out next year and see what the free market has in store ?
I think he signs the extension, based on nothing other than what it looks like. I would LOVE it if he didn’t, as both a Knick fan (who can dream) and an NBA fan (I think there are teams that can do better by him, although, in fairness, DEN has spent money and accumulated talent, and won some). It would be as big a deal as LBJ’s first FA move to MIA. Balance of power changing.
I believe this is his first Super-Max (extra 5%) opportunity because he wasn’t a first round pick. So, he’ll go from 25% to 35%, and 5 more years.
Jokic would hate hate hate NYC (nothing against the city, as I love it). He’s a middle-of-nowhere rural guy with about as little interest in glitz and bright lights as it is possible to have.
I’m guessing you don’t live in NYC. Only tourists, etc. would think of NYC life being about glitz and bright lights. Jokic isn’t coming here (or anywhere else, most likely), but if he did come to NYC, he’d most likely find the Eastern European ethnic neighborhoods here far more similar to his native land than any place in Denver.
No, he comes from a tiny town in Serbia, doesn’t go out — ever — except to take care of his horses, and is a total homebody. He doesn’t like big cities.
Sounds about right DXC, I don’t see him as the type that would do the new age sign and bolt so that’s why I wonder if his {own inner team} is just pondering a new org and ripping the bandaid off all at once .
Agree I think there’s teams that can do better by him, and agreed Den has tried its just so wishy washy moving forward. This will be the biggest free agent call of the decade, I’m not sold it’s as cut and dry tho as most, I get he leaves a little money on the table but I think he values the next 10 years of his career more than just the money.
Denver {could} work or it could be a complete disaster ….I suppose a handshake wink and nod could be worked out that if in 2 years time Denver is No closer than they are today they will trade Joker to a team that he finds acceptable…At least Den gets value here (probably great tbh) and he gives the city an honest shot ….Id love to see him enter the market tho as well, doesn’t seem like an LA guy but we could have a max slot avail if he did want to go out West…Would be cool to see him in NY too. I have nothing against Denver I just wondered if there too tapped on on cap, too inj prone on the roster, and not enough young cheap contracts to keep the boat afloat for Joker
Can you please elaborate on how Denver’s roster is/was “poorly constructed”. You don’t know much basketball do you?
Sad to say Jokic but the league always favors GSW, so the refereeing is gonna be terrible, they need to make sure that their darling Curry gets a deep playoff run!
El Don will not be saying that when Denver is home and most of the calls going Nuggets way. NBA has always been home town calls favor. Watch GSW players getting upset at the calls going Nuggets way.
Firstly, Why did Barton and Cousins have a heated exchange?
Secondly, it sucks to see the Nuggets most likely go out in the first round but come next season you’ll have a healthy Jamal Murray and MPJ and MVP Jokic. Probably need to make moves around them to find the right supporting cast but they were a what 5th seed without there 2nd and 3rd best players. That’s pretty darn good.
They need to add defenders but they are building nicely.
Nuggets have looked bad before in the playoffs and bounced back… but behind Murray, in prime condition. Won’t be so this year.