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Sacramento Kings: Can Willie Cauley-Stein Put It Together This Season?

By Jonathan Roberts

OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks to pass the ball while guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during an NBA Basketball game at ORACLE Arena on February 15, 2017 in Oakland, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - FEBRUARY 15: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks to pass the ball while guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during an NBA Basketball game at ORACLE Arena on February 15, 2017 in Oakland, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Heading into a contract year, Sacramento Kings’ Willie Cauley-Stein has a lot riding on this season. He has had flashes of high-level production but has struggled with consistency. Could that change this season?

Cauley-Stein has been an enigma for Kings fans since DeMarcus Cousins was shipped out of town. Some days, he looks like an All-NBA center who is capable of being an offensive focal point. Others? He looks a step slow, lost, and somebody undeserving of major minutes on an NBA team.

The Numbers

Cauley-Stein is coming off a decent and slightly above-average season in which he had a player efficiency rating (PER) of 17.6 (league average is always fifteen). He averaged 12.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 50.2% shooting from the field.

The problem with those stats is the inconsistency behind them. Last season, Cauley-Stein finished with more games under ten points (25) than games with more than twenty points scored (11). It is also the same story with his rebounding. Some days, he looks like one of the NBA’s top centers, and some days he looks like a G-Leauger.

Take for example what was arguably Cauley-Stein’s best game, as well as his worst. On January 13th against the Los Angeles Clippers, Willie went off. He poured in 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists with a block and a steal to boot. If that was not enough, he did all of that on 62.5% from the floor in thirty-three minutes of action. He has had games at this level scattered throughout his game log. He also has games like this littered throughout the season too: 2 points, 5 rebounds, and a turnover in 23 minutes of action against the Denver Nuggets on November 20th.

Another troublesome stat from last season was that Cauley-Stein posted a career-worst -4.4 net rating, true-shooting percentage, turnover rate, offensive rating, and defensive rating. To be fair to him though, he also played for the worst Kings team he has been a part of.

Cauley-Stein will be a free-agent at the end of this season. That much is a near certainty. What is not yet known, however, is whether or not he will be able to secure a large contract for himself, either from the Kings or elsewhere.

Willie’s Competition

Willie has a good opportunity to make himself a household name this year, the problem, however, is that it is not going to be an easy road. He is going to have to battle with *takes a deep breath* Marvin Bagley III, Harry Giles, Skal Labissiere, Deyonta Davis, Kosta Koufos, and Zach Randolph *exhales*. Admittedly, Cauley-Stein will likely open the season as the starting center. He is still going to face stiff competition from his teammates all nipping at his heels for playing time should he slip up.

Final Thoughts

The Kings have zero incentive to tank this season, and Dave Joerger is going to play whoever gives the team the best chance to win. If Willie cannot put it together this year, he may not get another chance for the Kings. But that does not mean he cannot do it. Cauley-Stein undoubtedly has the talent to play at a high level this year. He can shoot from inside the arc, rebound well, and play strong interior defense. He has shown this throughout his career, albeit in brief flashes.

The ability to do those things is not what keeps Cauley-Stein from breaking out. It is the ability to do them consistently.

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