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?