HOUSTON -- Last summer, while the basketball world reacted with shock, awe and frustration when the Golden State Warriors signed DeMarcus Cousins, it was easy to miss just what sort of gamble was being taken.
Not just a wager that Cousins would get and stay healthy -- ultimately, he wasn't able to -- but because signing him meant the Warriors had largely spent their free-agency dollars in one move.
They'd had visions of remaking their bench with David West retiring and Nick Young, JaVale McGee and Patrick McCaw among those leaving.