Thunderous Intentions
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Demarcus Cousins and the Thunder: A conspiracy theory

By Tony Heim

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during a game against the Houston Rockets at the Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 23: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during a game against the Houston Rockets at the Smoothie King Center on February 23, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Imagine Demarcus Cousins in an OKC Thunder jersey.
Demarcus Cousins is in New Orleans now, but his talents are more suited for the OKC Thunder. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Russell Westbrook and Paul George is a great foundation for the OKC Thunder – Demarcus Cousins pushes them to the upper echelon.

First things first. I don’t write click bait. This is not meant to be click bait. This fictional piece, however, is a completely valid scenario that could unfold if everything falls completely into place for Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It’s early January, 2018. The New Orleans Pelicans are currently…bad. They’re hovering around .500, but that’s not good enough for a team fielding two All Star big men. Demarcus Cousins is a free agent this offseason – there’s no future in New Orleans. They worry he’s going to leave.

Oklahoma City is lurking in the Western Conference. Like last year, there are tiers of teams out West. Unlike last year, the Thunder are in that second tier underneath Golden State. Paul George is going to be a free agent this offseason. More importantly, Russell Westbrook is going to be a free agent this offseason.

Sam Presti is all in on building a championship team this season.

Here’s the problem. Oklahoma City doesn’t have nearly as much to offer as other teams – they already gave up two valuable assets in Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to get Paul George. The Celtics have their draft picks. The Spurs have Lamarcus Aldridge, Danny Green and a couple young interesting prospects in Dejounte Murray and Davis Bertans to offer.

But we’re talking about Sam Presti. The guy that turned Serge Ibaka and a first rounder (or two second rounders) into Paul George and Jerami Grant. The closest thing to David Blaine the NBA world has ever seen.

MUST READ: Sam Presti is smart than all of us

He’ll convince NOLA that Steven Adams at three more years (remember it’s 2018 now) for $76 million is a good value, just like he did Indiana with Oladipo. But this time Presti has more ammunition in his belt.

Like the Pacers, the Pelicans will be in a stranglehold to trade Boogie. Unlike Indiana, New Orleans will only have a half season left of Cousins’ contract to barter.

This is the big one though:

Presti has New Orleans trade with Sacramento to acquire Cousins as a framework to guide the conversation.

New Orleans gave up Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and a 2017 first and second round pick. That was for about 1 1/3 seasons of Boogie. Now Presti would be trading for around 1/3 of Boogie.

Basic logic says the Thunder would only have to give up 1/4 of what Sacramento gave up – basically nothing- to get Cousins. Basic logic would be wrong in this case, but it also highlights Cousins’ value at least a little.

Somehow Presti pulls it off. It’s a miracle. Now the Thunder are true contenders. I imagine it’s Steven Adams, Jerami Grant and a pick, something along those lines. It’s Sam Presti though; there’s no point in even trying.

Oklahoma City is now rolling out Russell Westbrook-Andre Roberson-Paul George-Patrick Patterson-Demarcus Cousins.

Related Story: Paul George acquisition shows Thunder want to be contenders

Side note: I realize yesterday I said Patterson wasn’t good enough to be in a Finals starting/crunch time lineup. With this lineup he is, simply because the offensive force that is Cousins is more than enough to supplement his “shortcomings.”

Side side note: it is not an insult to say someone is not a starting caliber player in the NBA Finals. We are in the era of the super-super team. Role players are freaking studs.

Back to the point. That ^ lineup is killer. Golden State’s Death Lineup would not be able to stop a lineup with Demarcus Cousins down low coupled with Paul George and Russell Westbrook on the perimeter. Bigs are their kryptonite – the only problem is there isn’t a contending team in the league with a dominant big.

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Now Oklahoma City is.

Three final questions

Is this guaranteed to beat the Warriors? Heck no. The outlandish differences in team chemistry would prove a problem for this new OKC team. But the talent is comparable. That’s all you can ask for when a 73-win team magically signs the second best player in the NBA.

Could it beat the Warriors? Heck yes. Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson and Paul George can all guard Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant relatively well. They’re still going to score, but so is Oklahoma City.

Will this happen? Probably not. But it’s fun to believe.

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