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Sacramento Kings: Three things to watch for as the season comes to a close

By Jonathan Roberts

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 14: Harry Giles #20 and Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 14, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 14: Harry Giles #20 and Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings talk during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 14, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – OCTOBER 26: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 26, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – OCTOBER 26: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 26, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Willie Cauley-Stein’s Sacramento Kings tenure may be coming to an end. That shouldn’t be breaking news to anybody whose followed the Kings this season, but it’s the truth. There also remains the possibility that the Sacramento Kings hand Cauley-Stein a fairly lucrative contract to remain to the Kings center — both odds seems as likely, as the front office hasn’t given any hints as to where they’re leaning.

Is there anyway to get an early read on what the team is thinking? If you look at his playtime, possibly.

Cauley-Stein’s minutes per game has fluctuated since the start of the season, when he averaged 30 minutes per game during an incredible run to open the year. His minutes bottomed out in February, where he averaged just 25.8 minutes per game — coinciding with Marvin Bagley’s rise as an organizational building block. Cauley-Stein’s minutes have since gone up to 28.2 in the month of March — coinciding with Bagley’s most recent injury.

It’s almost important to note that Harry Giles, the player who will likely take over the starting center role in the future, has also gone up this month. Giles has experienced a fantastic month of March, and it’s led to an increase in playing time from 15.3 minutes per game to nearly 20. Giles’ minutes haven’t impacted Cauley-Stein’s as much as they have Nemanja Bjelica’s, but it’s still worth monitoring.

The most important thing to keep an eye on, however, is whether Cauley-Stein’s minutes drop as Bagley gets back to normal. If they do, it could indicate the team’s desire to see what they have in their young big(s) to decide whether or not to move on from Cauley-Stein.

Next. Grading the Kings’ deadline moves, one month later. dark

There’s certainly more factors contributing to what Willie’s future in Sacramento will hold, but without any firm indication from the team one way or the other, speculation is all we have — and if the numbers start to show a pattern, it could be something of a hint towards the future.

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