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The New York Knicks have been somewhat of a disaster as a franchise for quite some time. There have been playoff appearances over the last two decades but none worth mentioning even when the great Carmelo Anthony was part of their roster between 2011-2017.
One of their major flaws has always been succumbing to media pressure and a rabid fanbase in a large sports market hungry for stars and consistent success. Their front office has tried to appease that appetite by bringing in players via trade or free agency with big names, who are ultimately beyond their expiration date on health and talent - usually resulting in a roster with declining talent and a swelling payroll.
Back in the 06/07 campaign, their total payroll was $117m - nearly $30m higher than the Dallas Mavericks, despite only winning 33 games that season. That was worsened by a salary cap of $53.1m at the time, meaning they were severely over budget with no reward.
Ultimately, they have failed to make good player payroll decisions. Now though in 2017, having drafted Duke University's RJ Barrett with the third overall pick in this month's draft, they have between $69-72.5m worth of cap room to spend.
One free agent prospect is DeMarcus Cousins. With high-profile free agents Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both sidelined through serious injuries, should they gamble on Cousins if Kyrie Irving goes to Brooklyn? The answer is no and here are three reasons why they must look elsewhere for talent this offseason:
#3 Cousins is injury-prone and not exactly reliable
At this stage of his NBA career, it's fair to say Cousins is injury-prone. Originally drafted by the Sacramento Kings back in 2010, he has been a standout performer in the league - partly given his immense basketball talent, while also for his bullish attitude.
What makes him a poor free agent signing for the Knicks though, is his health. At just 28-years-old, he has never played a full 82-game schedule and we're already nine years into his tenure in the league. He played 81 games in his rookie season, but it's been downhill and laden with inconsistencies since then.
As of the 2017/18 season, where he played just 48 games for the New Orleans Pelicans, he sustained a serious Achilles tendon injury. He returned to action nearly a year later with the Golden State Warriors this January, playing 30 regular-season matches. But just when he looked healthy and poised to be a prominent member of a potential three-peat championship side, his injury woes appeared again - suffering a quadriceps problem which sidelined him again.
Ultimately, he played in eight of the Warriors' 22 playoff games, starting in five. If the Knicks were to sign him, it would be wise to have him spend more time rehabbing than playing regularly during the first year of his new contract. For a team that won just 17 times in the 2018/19 season, signing Cousins to a bumper multi-year deal would prove detrimental to the team while potentially hampering their cap flexibility in future too.
#2 His on-court impact and combustible attitude
When selected by the Kings in 2010, Cousins was widely regarded as a franchise player. It's safe to say this label no longer applies to the man affectionately known as Boogie.
He does average 21.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game for an impressive double-double in his career to date and was averaging 25.2 points during the 17/18 campaign before being sidelined with an Achilles injury. However, the All-Star played six-and-a-half seasons for the Kings and didn't help lead the franchise to the playoffs in all that time.
During the 17/18 season when the Pelicans did make the playoffs, Cousins was nowhere to be seen through injury. In fact, his only meaningful post-season games came as a Warrior in recent months - where he only managed to partake in eight of their 22 NBA playoff games.
Also in this era of shooters, Cousins is a below-average distance shooter - averaging just 33.2% from three-point range in his career. While improving just before he got hurt (35.4% in 17/18), he doesn't have the consistent track record of a Brook Lopez-type on the perimeter and has now played just 78 regular games over the last two seasons.
In addition to his injury woes, he's also missed significant game time through suspensions due to his attitude and troublesome behaviour. Although he's available and a fine talent, he's not a leader - the Knicks don't need him mixing with their young, developing players.
Combustible attitude, troublesome behavioural issues
Ultimately though, he is a poor example of how to be professional and stay on the court to help his teammates. Back in February 2017, he was fined $25k for an inappropriate gesture and language during a Kings win against the Warriors.
Two days later during a defeat by the Chicago Bulls, he picked up his 16th technical foul. This was the earliest any player had reached that restriction in a season and 16 technical fouls result in an automatic one-game suspension and for every two consequently received.
All throughout his career, Cousins has had run-ins with Kings management, referees and the league resulting in multiple fines and suspensions. He has shown his ability to score and rebound well but is just as likely to hurt his team with a damaging attitude.
#1 The Knicks and their signing curse
The Knicks have a long history, spanning two decades, of signing high-profile players to long-term deals, ending in dramatic failure. It's essentially a curse. Cousins probably intended the 18/19 season to be a year where he'd reclaim his All-Star status, leading to a multi-year deal after penning a one-year $5m deal with the Warriors.
The Knicks would be better off either waiting to see if their $70m cap space attracts star talent elsewhere before even considering Cousins. Keep in mind his persistent injuries, he's a depth player at best right now. GM Scott Perry has a plethora of former Knicks deals to examine, as to why an injury-prone, sometimes unmanageable superstar is not worth the trouble.
In 2001, Allan Houston signed a six-year $100m contract and retired four years later due to knee issues. Houston even has an NBA CBA clause named after him for any team's ability to waive a contract without it counting towards their cap. Perry's predecessors also signed Eddy Curry to a six-year, $60m deal in 2005 and the center - with an irregular heartbeat - saw his ability to play decline in minutes and production after an undisclosed illness in 2007. Between 2008-2010, he could only manage ten appearances for the Knicks.
If Cousins is signed, they should make a similar deal to the one he took this past season with the Warriors. Should the situation not prove beneficial, a short-term deal is both flexible and easy to make disappear in a worse case scenario. However, the Knicks cannot panic as usual and sign Cousins to a long-term multi-year deal which could potentially make them suffer financially for years to come. A more patient, methodical approach is wise with a young nucleus centred around the likes of Dennis Smith Jr, Knox and Barrett.
