News broke on Wednesday that the Knicks were contemplating "extending a considerable one-year offer" to free agent DeMarcus Cousins this summer, per the New York Times Marc Stein.
SNY's Ian Begley has reported the Knicks not wanting to commit long-term money to someone not at the top of their free agents list, and Cousins would be one of those players. DeAndre Jordan is also on the list of big man the Knicks may want to bring back, and he would be a much smaller price tag than Cousins.
But would even a one-year offer at a high price for the six-time All-Star be worth it for New York? Here are the pros and cons to bring Cousins aboard for the 2019-2020 season...
Pros
Mentoring Mitchell Robinson: Robinson was one of the few bright lights that shined during the Knicks' awful season last year. The second-rounder showcased his affinity for shot blocking, averaging 2.4 blocks per game. That didn't just lead all rookie by a landslide, but he ranked second in the NBA as well.
Robinson is one of those key building blocks for the Knicks, and he definitely has room to grow. He's a natural on the defensive side of the ball, but his offense could be summed up with an alley-oop highlight tape last year.
Cousins can score throw down his fair share of oops, but he also works well in the post and can hit threes when left open. Cousins taking Robinson under his wing would be a great look for the soon-to-be 29-year-old. And for the Knicks, that duo could be one of the best, if not the best, in the league.
Kevin Durant connection: The Knicks would be disappointed if they didn't land one of the big names in this year's free agency class, a list that includes Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Kyrie Irving. Bringing in Cousins could potentially entice Durant to follow suit and join his former Golden State teammate.
Durant and Cousins played just one season together in LA, and both were injured for a good portion of the team's playoff run. When Durant drew criticism for how long it took him to return to the court from his calf injury, Cousins voiced his support for him.
Cons
Injury history: Cousin's recent injury history is a legitimate reason for concern. With the Warriors this past season, Cousins appeared in just 30 regular-season games after taking time to recover from an torn Achilles in January 2018.
Once he made his way back to the court, Cousins suffered a torn left quad in the first round of the playoffs. He came back to play in the NBA Finals against the Raptors, though he was clearly not 100 percent.
Would a significant long-term contract be worth the risk of Cousins re-injuring himself?
Is he that much of an upgrade from DeAndre Jordan?: If the Knicks are looking for an interior presence who can give them double-digit rebounds and block shots, would Jordan be a better option considering the price tag?
After last season's trade from the Mavericks, Jordan averaged 10.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. While he's not the offensive weapon that Cousins has proven to be in the past, signing Jordan to a more reasonable deal would open up more possibilities to the Knicks to build the roster in other places.
Price tag: After his Achilles injury in 2018, Cousins signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Warriors. It's unlikely that he would command anything more than a one or two-year deal after his most recent injury string.
Even if Cousins is looking for a one-year deal, his price tag could preclude the Knicks from having available cap space for other moves. The Knicks wouldn't want to find themselves in a situation where they've sunk a considerable amount of money into Cousins if he's not part of their long-term picture.