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Well it appears that Cousins is dead set on getting on an NBA team this year. For a team that lacks some big man depth should we give him a shot?

It won't cost jack **** and if he can help us at all that would be a pretty big win in general. We did pretty well the last time we went after a former all-star in Carmelo, he wasn't great for us but he did fill a need and played his role well.

I like that idea a lot. Especially now that Lillard is out we lack offensive depth. Cousins would be another guy that can create his own shots efficiently and would give us solid presence down low. I also like the idea of playing Boogie next to Nurk or Eubanks instead of having only one of them on the floor at all times.

The guy still has game. But there's a reason he hasn't been able to stick anywhere for years, even at the vet minimum.
Unlike Melo, he's a certified head-case.
We'd need some really strong voices to keep him from becoming a locker room cancer, and besides Dame, I'm not sure we have that.

monopoman wrote:Well it appears that Cousins is dead set on getting on an NBA team this year. For a team that lacks some big man depth should we give him a shot?

It won't cost jack **** and if he can help us at all that would be a pretty big win in general. We did pretty well the last time we went after a former all-star in Carmelo, he wasn't great for us but he did fill a need and played his role well.

Where Portland currently sits, signing Cousins will 'cost' about $10M.

Cousins will be owed ~$1.4M (prorated minimum contract). That would put Portland into the tax, costing another $1.4M. Most importantly, Portland would be loosing out on the tax distribution money paid by all the other teams over the tax line. Right now, that is projected to be ~$7M-10M per team under the tax line.

Portland will not add any salary to the roster unless it's a no-brainer trade that improves the team. The only way someone like Cousins is added is if they can trade GBIII to another team without salary coming back.

Cousins cant defend a chair. I dont think we need a big that requires usage and touches. We need a big that ideally can defend in space and hit an open 3. That guy isnt available so I think we just roll with what we have.

At what point would his prorated salary not put us in the tax? Or is the tax based on that full season number. Would be interesting if we could sign him say mid January...

He'd have to pass the team physical and I'd wonder how Nurk would like Cousins breathing over
his shoulder

Goldbum wrote:At what point would his prorated salary not put us in the tax? Or is the tax based on that full season number. Would be interesting if we could sign him say mid January...

Considering Portland currently sits $67k below the tax line - they can sign a pro-rated minimum contract guy when there is 3% of the season left (ie - for the last 2 games of the season).

67,000 / 1,836,000 => 3.6%
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers//cap

Cousins is just not the answer for us for so many reasons. LMA would be a much better option as a Veteran last piece addition to a playoff run, but we are obviously so far away from that now. We need a daily, major contributor that has a future in him, and it is now time to move beyond the, hope we find a diamond in the rough phase we currently seem to be in. IMO, A starting caliber C is what we need most, in addition to Nurkic.

GEE wrote:Cousins is just not the answer for us for so many reasons. LMA would be a much better option as a Veteran last piece addition to a playoff run, but we are obviously so far away from that now. We need a daily, major contributor that has a future in him, and it is now time to move beyond the, hope we find a diamond in the rough phase we currently seem to be in. IMO, A starting caliber C is what we need most, in addition to Nurkic.

There are not many C's out there that are better than Nurk and easily available, this is basically like saying man if we had KD on this team and didn't have to give up anything we would be so damn good. The list of guys that clearly better than Nurk and play the same position is very small.

I've been wanting cousins on the team for years. Even with his injury history and attitude he's still better than Nurkic.