MILWAUKEE — Over the past seven weeks, thanks to off-court drama, other injuries and impressive individual performances, the biggest question of the Warriors’ season — when will DeMarcus Cousins return — has lingered in the background.

But with Cousins now a full participant in practice, many Golden State fans are getting anxious to see how the four-time NBA All-Star looks alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. It came as no surprise that, when I put the call out on Twitter this week for mailbag questions, most of them were about Cousins or the center spot.

@oakland510: If you had to guess a game/day that Boogie comes back, what would it be? We keep hearing after Christmas, but what does that mean? Do they mean vs. Portland?

After the Warriors’ practice Sunday afternoon at Detroit Mercy, I watched for about 20 minutes as Cousins participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage. My biggest takeaway was that, if it were the playoffs, he could play now and contribute. He was throwing down alley-oop dunks and moving with relative ease. At this point, Cousins just needs to improve his conditioning a bit to be completely game-ready.

It’s possible that Cousins returns Dec. 27 against the Trail Blazers at Oracle, Dec. 29 in Portland or Dec. 31 in Phoenix, but I think it’s more likely that Golden State gives him a few more days to get his conditioning back. If I had to guess, I’d say he probably comes back Jan. 3 against Houston or Jan. 5 in Sacramento. I won’t be shocked, however, if Cousins returns that following week.

@Roopenpoika: What do you make of the Boogie situation. Will he try to ball out in hopes of getting a big contract next year (somewhere else), or will he take it easy and find his role in the team in hopes of helping the Dubs win another ring? Or can he do both?

I think he can do both. If all goes according to plan, Cousins will be a key factor in the Warriors’ run to a third straight NBA title before he signs a contract elsewhere next summer for far more money than Golden State can offer.

No one expects him to average 26 points and 12 rebounds per game, given all the talent around him. But if Cousins can play his role, ease concerns about his health and stay out of trouble, he could command a big payday in July and be an NBA champion.

@EricaCher4: With DJ out for the season, what are the big man options (on the market now, prospective buyouts, etc.) that the Warriors could potentially sign? Trade options?

As you alluded to, the Warriors’ center rotation is undermanned without Damian Jones. Golden State doesn’t have a prototypical big man. Small-ball centers Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell are being leaned on heavily, with some help from Jonas Jerebko and two-way-contract player Marcus Derrickson.

If Golden State decides it needs a 7-footer to help take Jones’ place until Cousins returns, it has some options. The most realistic one right now would be signing Willie Reed, a 28-year-old NBA veteran who is averaging 22.2 points and 11.8 rebounds for the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars.

The Warriors could also monitor the buyout market for a serviceable big man. The problem is that no one of note may become available until after the trade deadline in late February, when Cousins probably will have already been playing for at least a month.

The most likely scenario has Golden State staying patient until it gets healthier. Green, probably the team’s best small-ball center, is expected back from his toe injury early next week. Cousins could return soon after Christmas. And once he is back, the Warriors’ center rotation should be just fine.

@peterburke: Will Draymond Green be healthy this season? (Or ever?) And are the Warriors considering moving on from him after his contract runs up? That seems like it could be the end of the championship window, unless KD sticks around.

Questions about Green’s health are warranted. As you know, he plays a physical, relentless brand of basketball. And as the 28-year-old nears 30, it’s worth wondering whether his playing style could take a toll on his body and lead to a major dip in production.

Just last season, he dealt with nagging right shoulder soreness, a swollen elbow, knee soreness and a bruised pelvis. A sprained right toe has already forced Green to miss 12 games this season.

The Warriors will take all this into account as he gets closer to free agency in summer 2020. At this point, they hope to keep Green as long as they can. But if Green decides he deserves a max deal and Golden State isn’t comfortable offering one, the two sides could part ways. Anything is possible.

@thegreenleash: Any update on Patrick McCaw?

No update. There is little to no chance of McCaw re-signing with the Warriors. And the only way McCaw can play for another team this season is if Golden State renounces him, which seems unlikely.

Though he is coming off a disappointing season, McCaw, 23, is still a long, versatile wing with big-game experience and plenty of upside. Why would the Warriors let him go for nothing when, at the very least, they could keep him as a potential trade piece?

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron