Why didn't the Lakers sign DeMarcus Cousins? Ex-Cavs GM seems perplexed

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Programming note: Watch DeMarcus Cousins' introductory press conference with the Warriors today at 11 a.m. on NBC Sports Bay Area.

The Lakers landed LeBron James.

That's a good thing.

But David Griffin, the former general manager of the Cavaliers, sounds perplexed about Los Angeles' other transactions this summer.

[LISTEN: Warriors Outsiders Podcast -- Way-too-early Top 8 in the Western Conference]

"I don't really understand exactly where they're going from the standpoint of playoff basketball," Griffin said Wednesday on KNBR 680. "I get it -- if you want to put multiple playmakers out there and make the game a little easier for LeBron to play, I totally understand. I don't think LeBron thrives with playing with non-floor spacing ball-dominant guys, especially in the playoffs.

"You're talking about taking the ball out of the hands of the most efficient and best decision-maker in the NBA. And when you space the court around him, your points per possession is going to be infinitely higher with him on the handle than it is with anybody else.

"When the playoffs happen -- if Brandon Ingram hasn't come a really long in his ability to consistently make open 3s, I don't know who you're counting on to be a big shot maker."

The Warriors ended up getting DeMarcus Cousins at the taxpayer mid-level exception of $5,337,000.

So, did the Lakers offer the big man a contract? It's unclear if Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka seriously pursued the four-time All-Star.

[RELATED: DeMarcus Cousins unfazed over potential backlash from joining Warriors]

"I think the way you can beat them (the Warriors) potentially -- and again, this requires all of the stars to align -- Boogie Cousins is the guy the Lakers if you would have had him, they would have been able to throw him the ball and force the Warriors to keep a center on the court, and that was a weak link once," Griffin explained. "Now, you don't have anybody to throw the ball to and force them to keep their ninth- or 10th-best player on the court. ... What do you do?

"I don't know how they're going to be able to put them in any jeopardy -- certainly this year. The group they have right now isn't scaring Golden State."

Drew Shiller is the co-host of Warriors Outsiders. Follow him on Twitter @DrewShiller

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