When DeMarcus Cousins elected to sign with the Golden State Warriors, shockwaves were sent throughout the NBA, with many initial reactions claiming that the defending champs had tainted the league by acquiring yet another All-Star.

However, a closer look, with the benefit of time, has allowed many to realize that Cousins’ addition to the Warriors is more than just an instance of adding to Golden State’s collection of an elite talent. There are benefits and pitfalls to the move for both parties.

Paul Pierce noted as much in a recent appearance on The Jump on ESPN.

“He has to fit into a culture,” The Truth said. This is a championship team, so when you come to a championship team—to a team you weren’t on a year ago—you have to fall in line, understand your place. You don’t try to come in here and do things your way. You do things the way they want you to do it.”

In many ways, Cousins, who is currently rehabbing from a debilitating achilles injury that ended his 2017-18 season and could encroach on much of the 2018-19 season for the four-time All-Star, fell in Golden State’s lap.

That injury, and a soft market for his services, left the big man in a strange position where he was willing to accept a mid-level exception agreement with the Warriors, which will pay him around $5 million this season. If he performs well en route to a Golden State three-peat, he could be rewarded with a much bigger contract this time next year, which is why he bet on himself and the Warriors for next season.

The biggest benefit for both parties comes in the form of time. For Cousins, who is attempting to come back from a debilitating achilles injury, he doesn’t have to worry about rushing back to a team waiting and depending on him. The Warriors swept the NBA Finals without Cousins just last year. He is, for intents and purposes, an excess piece, with little risk and great reward potential.

Golden State plans to ease Cousins into their rotation when he is ready to play, and they are one of the few teams in the league, possibly the only one currently, with that luxury. And after signing a one-year deal, it’s an ideal opportunity for Cousins to build up his value post-injury while competing for a championship before hitting the open market again next season, this time healthy.

“He’s going to have the luxury to just take his time, get 100 percent healthy, around a championship culture, around guys he respects,” Pierce said. “This is a perfect situation for Boogie Cousins, especially trying to get to a bounce-back year after a devastating injury.”

Cousins will finally be playing for a contender, something he hasn’t had since his time at Kentucky under Coach John Calipari, where he played alongside John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Patrick Patterson.

The union very well may be a good match when all is said and done this season, but there are layers to the situation. Cousins’ style of play isn’t the perfect fit for what the Warriors run, the way that Durant’s game was two years ago. Cousins has also had his share of detractors over the years, sighting his attitude and its potentially adverse impact on team chemistry.

Those issues, which surfaced in Sacramento and New Orleans for Cousins have cast doubt on how Cousins’ personality will mesh in with Golden State’s proven stars like Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, who he has already had issues with as an opponent, and Klay Thompson. However, Paul says Cousins understands his role, and the stakes of this opportunity, and believes that fitting in with the championship Dubs will be no problem for the big man.

“He understands he is walking into a championship culture. Guys that are going to be around him are guys that he respects,” The Truth said. “How many teams has he been on where there are more than two or three guys that he’s going to totally respect—guys like Draymond, KD? He looks up to these guys because he wants to be where they’ve gone.”