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NBA Free Agency: Can Boogie’s Achilles Heal Like Nique’s?

By Chris Guest

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 22: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on January 22, 2018 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 22: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on January 22, 2018 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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With NBA Free Agency roiling with rumors and news alike, the Hawks have remained relatively quiet so far.

Though the major free agency news came on July 1 with the one and only LeBron James deciding to go to the Lakers (a situation the Hawks could aid by taking on bad money), perhaps even bigger news arrived on July 2 with the rich getting excessively richer.

DeMarcus Cousins, the simultaneously lovable and hateable Boogie, decided to join the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors on a one-year/$5.3 million deal. Though there are a myriad of questions that come with this signing, we are only going to focus on one from the perspective of Atlanta Hawks history.

Can Boogie return from an Achilles Tendon injury as the same player, much like the greatest Hawk of all time, Dominique Wilkins, did after rupturing his Achilles in the 1991-92 season?

‘Nique was known as the Human Highlight Reel, and he relied on his explosive athleticism to put forth some of the best dunks in NBA history throughout his storied 15-year NBA career (17 total years with two overseas).

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However, many thought Wilkins was finished after suffering an awful Achilles injury in 1991. He spurned those doomsayers, however, by coming back better than ever and averaging 24.6 points per game in his three seasons after the injury (including a stunning 29.9 in the first year back from the injury).

Though ‘Nique bounced back in a big way, he also was thinner and less bulky as a scoring two guard than Boogie, his immense heft and bulk is part of what makes him such an effective player, as he can safely leverage that size with a tight handle and extremely nimble moves around the basket along with great passing vision.

Boogie has been injury-riddled throughout his career, having never played a full 82-game season once in his career (his career-highs are 81, 75, 72 and 71 in 8 NBA seasons).

Cousins clearly relies on his athleticism for much of his effectiveness, but he does have pretty good feel for a big man and his unusual skill set for a 6-foot-11 bruiser would make him an asset for most teams in the league – let alone the embarrassingly talented Golden State Warriors.

It has already been reported that Cousins will be held out until December or January in Golden State, giving him ample time to recover from such a major injury.

In the end, whether or not Boogie comes back as the same player, a slightly limited player or a complete shell of himself, he should bring just enough to the table to help the Warriors eke out another championship…

I’m kidding, of course. The Warriors are in complete dynastic control of the future of the NBA, and nabbing Cousins on such a cheap deal, no matter if he returns as an effective rotation piece for the team going forward or not, is a complete coup for Golden State.

Next: Would LaVine Fit Well on the Hawks?

Dominique was a special talent for the Hawks, who defied the skeptics are returned as the same player he was before a terrible Achilles injury. Perhaps Boogie can do the same for the vaunted Warriors via free agency.