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Washington Wizards: DeMarcus Cousins or the Dirty Dozen?

By Jen Julie Smith

Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Eastern Conference guard John Wall of the Washington Wizards (2) prepares to shoot the ball in front of Western Conference guard Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors (11) and Western Conference center DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings (15) in the second quarter during the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Eastern Conference guard John Wall of the Washington Wizards (2) prepares to shoot the ball in front of Western Conference guard Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors (11) and Western Conference center DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings (15) in the second quarter during the NBA All Star Game at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 4, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) reacts prior to tip off against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward DeMarcus Cousins (0) reacts prior to tip off against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

DeMarcus Cousins or the Dirty Dozen

I recently wrote an article that Washington needs to practically do over its bench, and add two starters, by moving around a possible 12 players in its current lineup. I’m against blowing up teams, but there must be a readjustment from the starting lineup to the second unit.

I never believed that Kevin Durant would come to Washington. A lot of people grow up and move away from home. But now there’s a rallying cry for DeMarcus Cousins to D.C.

I have to stop you right there in attempting to make another Wizards’ fantasy team.

More from Wiz of Awes

Who led the league in technical fouls this past season? Cousins with 18 . Who was second? Wall with 15.

Analysts made the argument, that Wall is just the person to reign in Cousins. I vehemently disagree.

Wall has to make a choice. Does he want to play with friends, like this is AAU basketball, or does he want to go to the Finals?

No one doubts Cousins dominance inside and outside the paint. Last season he averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds. He is exactly the type of player who would crush Al Horford.

In addition, there’s no argument he would be an excellent starting center over Marcin Gortat, who was a complete mismatch on Horford during the Boston series. But bad team chemistry does not a make a winning formula.

Wall shouldn’t be wasting his time in the middle of a game trying to stop Cousins from getting a technical, which in turn, may lead to Wall picking up one of his own.

In 2015-2016, Wall complained that he didn’t have control of the Wizards’ locker room because former coach Randy Wittman played favorites with Nene. Wall now has control, so why give that up?

Plus, Cousins only solves one problem, but the crux of the problem still remains – Washington’s weak bench.

If Washington did trade for Cousins, the Wizards are still stuck with an unproductive bench.

And the biggest problem has been no reliable backup for John Wall. In the words of LeBron James, adding Cousins would make Washington “top heavy”.

Without addressing the bench, Wall will still be playing too many minutes, with little rest throughout the entire season, and will be too tired when it really matters.

Bottom line, the more minutes Wall plays during the regular season, the less games won in the postseason.

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