It’s A Big Year for Willie Cauley-Stein
Aug 20, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:33 am
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 08: Vice president of basketball operations and general manager of the Sacramento Kings Vlade Divac watches warmups before the team's preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on October 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 75-69. 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. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Willie Cauley-Stein has been equally mesmerizing and frustrating through his first 3 seasons. As #4 approaches, he finds himself at a crossroads with both his career and his team, the Sacramento Kings.
Though sometimes he seems unfocused or aloof on the floor, other times he appears every bit the athletic freak many saw coming out of Kentucky. One of his perceived weaknesses (defense), actually may not be as bad as some think:
Only 3 players 7'0" or taller who played at least 1,000 minutes last season graded out as a B or better in Perimeter Defense per our competency grading model:
– Steven Adams
– Kelly Olynyk
– Willie Cauley-Stein#NBAPlayerGrades— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) August 19, 2018
Now sure, you can cherry-pick stats until the cows come home. But there’s no doubt Willie has the talent to do very good things in the NBA. With his contract year this season, the question is: Will he?
If he does, Vlade Divac will have a difficult decision to make.
