NBA FREE AGENCY: Champion Warriors get even stronger, adding big man DeMarcus Cousins.
DeMarcus Cousins is heading to the Golden State Warriors, looking for a title.
Cousins agreed Monday to accept a oneyear deal to join the twotime defending NBA champions for $5.3 million. The terms were confirmed to The Associated Press by a person directly involved in the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed.
It’s a lowrisk, highreward move for the Warriors, with Cousins set to return at some point this season once he completes his recovery from tearing his Achilles tendon in January.
And immediately, Cousins’ soontobe teammates welcomed the move. “The 3rd splash Brother,” Stephen Curry tweeted.
Cousins averaged 25.2 points last season for New Orleans, and for his career the sixtime allstar averages 21.5 points and 11.0 re bounds.
Meanwhile, farther down the California coast, the Lakers’ remake continues.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed The Associated Press that Rajon Rondo had agreed to sign a oneyear contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal is not finalized.
So in less than 24 hours, not only did the Lakers lure James out of Cleveland — but added two players who were longtime antagonists in his annual quest to win the Eastern Conference, first by agreeing to a deal with Lance Stephenson on Sunday night and then moving Monday to convince Rondo to join what will be his sixth different NBA franchise.
James is back on vacation while the Lakers are busy building a roster around him.
“For him, it’s just business as usual,” Lakers legend Kobe Bryant said of James during a Monday appearance on ESPN’s “The Jump.” ‘’He’ll come to work. He’ll work hard every single day. I’m really excited for our young players, because they get a chance to watch him work up close and so I think that speeds up their learning curve . ... I think it’s just important for ’Bron just to be himself and continue doing what he’s been doing.”
After just over $1 billion in new contracts were agreed upon starting late Saturday night and through the official first day of free agency Sunday — with James going to the Lakers, Kevin Durant staying in Golden State, Chris Paul staying in Houston and Paul George staying in Oklahoma City, among other news — things predictably cooled off a bit for Day 2.
It was still a big day for some guys, including Derrick Favors, who agreed on a $36 million, twoyear deal to stay with the Utah Jazz. Upon hearing that news, his teammates Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert reacted by quickly posting similar requests on Twit ter — that being that Favors finally grabs a dinner check.
He can do that now, and then some.
JJ Redick is back with the Philadelphia 76ers, agreeing to a oneyear deal worth about $12 million. Redick averaged 17.1 points and shot 42 percent from 3point range last season with Philadelphia, when he made $23 million.
Anthony Tolliver changed teams again, this time going back to one of his former stops — Minnesota, which will sign him to a oneyear deal worth $5.75 million.