While DeMarcus Cousins has been a difficult personality at certain points in his career, the Golden State Warriors internally made clear that they preferred to add him as a teammate than Dwight Howard.

Draymond Green, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson played with Cousins on the 2016 Olympics team, while Curry played with him on the 2014 World Cup team.

"I've heard and haven't reported this, and maybe this will get aggregated," said Tim Kawakami on The Lowe Post. "I really heard this. It's better than Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard was a 'no'. That was a 'no' in a lot of precincts of the Warriors. Flat out 'no'. And so DeMarcus Cousins against that backdrop is a thumbs up.

"Draymond clearly a 'yes' (on Cousins). Durant probably a 'yes'. Curry probably. The guys who knew him. Maybe others, we'll see.

"Dwight Howard was a 'no'. Let's not do that.

"Dwight's older but he's more healthy and obviously incredibly talent. That was not going to happen."

Kawakami added that he perceived the situation as the decision to rule out Howard made Cousins an easier risk to take on.

Howard ultimately agreed to sign with the Washington Wizards.