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‘THREE!’ chronicles the Warriors run to the 2018 NBA Championship.

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OAKLAND – The Warriors had already talked with DeMarcus Cousins extensively. Warriors general manager Bob Myers and Cousins expressed their mutual interest. Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Cousins agreed on his role. And Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green all reiterated their support.

Just when it seemed the Warriors ironed out all the specifics regarding Cousins’ health, his fit and his responsibilities, Myers suddenly realized he forgot to consider something else.

“Should we talk to Klay?” Myers said.

After all, Klay Thompson is the Warriors’ fourth other All-Star. His input kind of matters.

“He’s fine,” Kerr insisted. “He doesn’t care.”

Myers and Kerr laughed. So did the assembled media members and 160 campers at Cousins’ introductory press conference on Thursday when Myers shared the exchange. The reason for the amusement? As Myers said, “it’s true.”

“I still haven’t talked to Klay,” Cousins cracked.

More laughter ensued.

“You still haven’t talked to him,” Myers said, chuckling. “You can’t get a hold of him.” To subscribe to the Planet Dubs podcast click here.

No worries. Cousins had no problem getting a hold of the other Warriors’ All-Stars after playing with all of them with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team, including Curry and Thompson in the 2014 FIBA World Championships as well as Durant, Green and Thompson in the 2016 Olympics.

Cousins found Curry, Durant and Green to be instrumental for his arrival for reasons beyond considering them “some of the most talented players of this era.”

Even with the Warriors already winning three NBA titles in the past four years, those All-Star teammates all stressed Cousins’ presence would significantly help their quest to win another one.

“Every guy said, ‘Let’s go get another championship.’ That was the first thing. What really put me at ease was just the excitement,” Cousins said. “They’re a well established team. They could’ve easily been like, ‘No, we don’t need him’ or whatever the case may be. They were excited like they were a team that never accomplished anything. Just having that alone gave me a sense of being able to relax about it and be calm about my situation.”

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Cousins did not feel that way entering free agency. There are varying accounts from the New Orleans Pelicans and Cousins on if they gave him an offer. Still, Cousins did not draw the kind of interest a four-time NBA All-Star normally would amid concerns on the left Achilles tendon he injured in late January.

Therefore, Cousins’ representatives reached out to the Warriors to gauge their interest. The Warriors could acquire another All-Star at a relatively cheap price (a taxpayer midlevel exception worth $5.3 million) without harboring as much concern on when or how Cousins would play following his rehab. Cousins could join a team that would help him win his first NBA title without any pressure on returning too early.

Even with their superior talent, the Warriors still looked into Cousins’ medical history and sought clarity on his progress. They did not express as much concern, though, on other potential issues.

Could Cousins’ pending free agency provide an awkward locker room dynamic? After all, Cousins hopes his performance next season could spark the kind of free agency interest that lacked this summer. Would that enhance his performance or disrupt team chemistry? Will Cousins show as much investment knowing that the Warriors are unlikely able to afford keeping him beyond this upcoming season?

“I know everybody’s job, more so than ever, is to speculate. Our job is to win a championship in 2018-19. That’s hard enough as it is,” Myers said. “So thinking about beyond, we didn’t get these championships by thinking about the next one. They are very, very hard to do. I don’t like the word ‘rental’ or one year or this guy is a free agent. He’s on our team. Everybody else is on our team. We’re trying to add one guy. That’s it. We’re trying to win a championship this year.”

As the Warriors try to win the 2019 NBA championship, will Cousins’ past reputation as a volatile player come back to haunt him? He has collected a combined 115 technical fouls and 14 ejections through his eight-year NBA career. Still, the Warriors have experience handling Green (15 technicals) and Durant (14) last season.

After Cousins’ press conference, Myers described Green as “beautifully imperfect.” By the end of next season, Myers might talk about Cousins using those same words.

“I’ve always said that about Draymond. You can overcome those deficiencies or faults, so to speak, if they are faults,” Myers said. “If caring too much is a problem, well, you have to care to win in this league. Winning and losing has to matter more than a little bit. By watching him, he wants to win and he wants to compete. I think that’s the kind of people we want here to try to get him.”

The Warriors tried to get Cousins partly because he already had such strong relationships with their All-Star players.

Once the Warriors and Cousins agreed to a deal, Green and Durant both shared on their Instagram story a photo that showed Cousins trying to storm the Warriors’ locker room after both Cousins and Durant were ejected for scuffling last season in a regular-season game.

Cousins will no longer have a problem entering the Warriors’ locker room. But will he have a problem keeping his emotions in check with Durant and Green? Cousins joked that he “might as well” just participate in a brawl with them just to get any tension out of their system. Minutes later, Cousins turned serious about what last year’s chippiness meant.

“Just on the floor. What’s done is done,” Cousins said. “We’re all competitors at the end of the day. Sometimes you get that. We leave that on the floor.”

Instead, Cousins described himself and Green as “two goofballs that like to joke around a lot.” Hence, Cousins predicted he will “have some great moments” with Green. Will that involve having a competition on who can collect the most technicals?

“Nah, I’m running a little short this year,” Cousins said, laughing. “I’ll leave that to Draymond.” Related Articles Warriors’ Kevon Looney played last season ‘scared to move’

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Instead, Cousins pledges he will focus more on his recovery and game. Though he maintained he will surpass the dominance he showed through 6 ½ seasons with Sacramento and 1 ½ seasons with New Orleans, it does not seem likely Cousins will maintain his career averages in points (21.5) and rebounds (11.0). Not with Curry, Durant and Thompson carrying the scoring bulk. Not with Green and Durant also grabbing boards. Still, the Warriors and Cousins envision he will have easier looks in the post and along the perimeter. For once, opponents will not consider Cousins their main concern.

Will that new dynamic be enough for Cousins to become the third “Splash Brother”? Cousins joked about that when he played with Curry in the 2014 FIBA World Championships. Nearly four years later, Cousins simply said “we’ll see what happens.” He expressed more confidence, though, about how he will fit in the Warriors’ other All-Stars.

“It’s a great group of guys and easy going people,” Cousins said before offering a playful insult. “Maybe outside of Draymond, it’s a great group. I think we’ll mesh well.”

That includes the Warriors’ fourth All-Star that did not bother to talk to his newest teammates just yet.

“My favorite, by far, is Klay,” Cousins said. “Our short time together in the summer, for him to be as dull as he is, there’s never a dull moment. I really enjoyed my time with Klay.”

It appears Cousins will really enjoy his time with the Warriors, too.

Follow Bay Area News Group Warriors beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.