Sacramento Kings: Top 3 Players Halfway Through Preseason
By Rafe Wong
Willie Cauley-Stein
This one was a tough decision for me. Originally, I had Yogi Ferrell on the list, but due to him playing just one out of the three preseason games so far, I did not think he qualified to be a possible candidate. Therefore, Willie Cauley-Stein is my pick for the third best player.
This season is big for Cauley-Stein. With his rookie contract expiring at the end of this season, he is looking to have a good year in order to get paid what believes he is worth. So far, Cauley-Stein has had a nice preseason campaign. In three games, he is averaging 9.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and one steal a game while shooting 52.2% (12-23) from the floor.
Time will only tell whether the Kings and Cauley-Stein can mutually agree on a deal. It is even unknown whether Cauley-Stein sees Sacramento as a part of his future. But either way, he is with the Kings now, and if he wants to earn his next contract, he needs to have his best season yet. If he can prove to be a player who can grab rebounds and defend efficiently, it will make him an asset this season and a potential core player for the Kings to build around going forward.