Willie Cauley-Stein is Going to be “Revolutionary”

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NBA trainer Idan Ravin knows just a bit about great players in the Association. The trainer’s client list contains names such as Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, James Harden, Blake Griffin…and Willie Cauley-Stein.

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Although Willie Trill has not yet proven he belongs on that list of All-Pro players, he and two other rookies spent some time working out with Ravin leading up to the draft and almost certainly gained some great things from that experience–Ravin’s track record is obviously amazing, based on his clientele.

According to “the Hoops Whisperer”, Cauley-Stein has the potential to be a lot more than just a defensive anchor and great shot-blocker. Ravin seems to think he’s got a lot more in store, according to his quotes on Trill in this Basketball Insiders article:

"€œI think Willie could be revolutionary. You know what’s interesting? I think Willie’s versatility is extraordinary and I don’t think people even know it yet. I think he’ll eventually be able to shoot it very well, he puts the ball on the floor well and he runs well. He’s incredibly versatile. I think it would be a shame to just put him underneath the basket and have him run up and down the court blocking shots. I think that wouldn’t be taking advantage of his gifts and I don’t think that’s what he’s destined to be. I think it would kind of be putting him in handcuffs if that is his role and that is what he is limited to, because he could be very special. – Idan Ravin"

Wow. To say Ravin believes in WCS seems like a pretty huge understatement. He makes it sound as though he believes that Cauley-Stein could someday almost be a point forward who can effectively dribble the ball and shoot it, which would indeed be fairly revolutionary.

Now of course it’s important to remember this is a trainer talking up a client a bit here–Ravin had similar praise for Justise Winslow and Jahlil Okafor–but still. Imagine if the Kings started two big men in DeMarcus Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein who were both monsters inside, great defenders, could shoot from mid-range and put the ball on the floor and drive.

Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Their pick and rolls with both the other three players on the court and each other would be damn near unstoppable. Plus, good luck going small-ball on the Sacramento Kings if Cauley-Stein and Cousins are both playing major minutes.

Either one of those big men could do absolute work on any stretch fours–as long as the Kings weren’t down by a fair amount of points they could slow the game down and play at their own pace, posting up on smaller forwards and getting great looks out of it.

Cauley-Stein is crucial to the future of the Kings. If this is just another failed draft pick then the team is that much closer to yet another losing season, and potentially ending up back at square one. But if he pans out like Idan Ravin thinks he will?

Then we just might have a Sacramento Revolution. Which would be making the playoffs, or at least a winning season. We’d probably take either, at this point.

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