New York Knicks: How players picked after Kristaps Porzingis have fared

TARRYTOWN, NY - JUNE 26: Kristaps Porzingis, first round Draft pick of the New York Knicks speaks to the media at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on June 26, 2015 in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Kings Willie Cauley-Stein (Photo by Icon Sportswire) /

. C. Kentucky. Willie Cauley-Stein. 6. player. 67

Slash Line: .531/.222/.606
Career Averages: 10.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG

Behind Hezonja, Willie Cauley-Stein slotted sixth to the Sacramento Kings. He found success in three seasons at Kentucky as the follow-up to the Anthony Davis era. The 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in college were not outstanding, but upside as a Tyson Chandler-esque player pushed him into the top 10.

Cauley-Stein’s development started slow, as his minutes dipped below 20 per game in 2016-17. By 2017-18, his playing time soared and the numbers rose, with 12.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as of March 27 on the 2018-19 campaign.

The numbers have never followed as a top-of-the-line center, and other young big men are in Sacramento, including Marvin Bagley III. Cauley-Stein’s contract expires at season’s end and he will become a restricted free agent, so the end of his time in Northern California may be near.

Cauley-Stein might never become a starting center on a playoff team, but he can stick as at least a reserve on a better roster. If not, someone might pay him as a start this summer, which means the journey towards determining his value is hardly over.

So bookmark Cauley-Stein, for now, as his situation sorts out. The talent is there offensively, but will the production correlate as a defender?

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