Willie Cauley-Stein NBA Combine 2015: Measurements, Analysis, Draft Projection

Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein is one of the top prospects in the 2015 NBA draft class due to his imposing post presence and defensive ability. How much teams believe he can develop on the offensive end will decide how early he goes on draft night.

Jeff Greer of the Courier-Journal reported Cauley-Stein, along with Wildcats teammates Devin Booker and Trey Lyles, was only going to participate in the physical testing at the NBA Scouting Combine. It's a decision that limits the potential risk of being involved with the annual showcase.

With that in mind, let's check out how the coveted Kentucky product measured up in Chicago. The results are followed by a deeper dive into his stock and likely draft range. The draft itself is scheduled for June 25 at the Barclays Center.

Combine Measurements

Pos.	Height (Shoes)	Height (without Shoes)	Weight	Wingspan	Standing Reach	Hand Length	Hand Width	Body Fat
C	7' 0.5''	6' 11.25''	242.4 lb.	7' 3''	9' 3''	9.5''	9''	6.3%

Analysis of Draft Stock

A glance at Cauley-Stein's basic college numbers won't lead to much excitement. He averaged merely eight points and six rebounds across three seasons at Kentucky. That seems more like the production of a college reserve as opposed to a top-10 draft pick.

Two far more encouraging stats are blocks (2.2 per game) and shooting from the field (59 percent). That gives a snapshot of what the center is most likely going to become at the next level: a defensive stalwart who chips in effectively—albeit it not overly often—on offense.

Orlando Magic Daily noted Cauley-Stein understands that adding a little more versatility to his offensive game could go a long way, so he's working on it:

The good news is that it's possible to make a major impact without being a go-to scorer. DeAndre Jordan has illustrated that throughout his career with the Los Angeles Clippers. He's a key asset for the team despite checking in at eight points per game for his career.

Cauley-Stein isn't on the same level as Jordan in terms of rebounding quite yet. But the Clippers center has enjoyed steady development, and the Kentucky star has the necessary athleticism to follow a similar path over time.

Taking part in the physical testing helped confirm his intriguing measurables. Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio pointed out he was in a select group of 7-footers (in shoes):

Draft Express provided a comparison based on the physical traits, not playing style:

"

Cauley-Stein isn't as historically large as [Robert] Upshaw, but his measurements aren't far off those of Chris Bosh who measured 6'10.25'' with a 7'3.5'' wingspan and a 225-pound frame coming out of Georgia Tech. Cauley-Stein measured a little longer than he had in the past, and that, combined with his terrific agility, instincts and anticipation skills make it very easy to see him developing into a defensive stopper in the NBA.

"

All told, Cauley-Stein should go in the lottery based purely on his potential as a top-end defender. He already features the size, length and quickness to match up with players in the NBA. He'll probably work to add more power to his frame, too.

His offensive input at the outset will probably be mostly easy looks around the rim, many coming in second-chance situations. The question is whether he can develop into a reliable secondary scorer over time or if his current skill set is basically what you're going to see for his entire career.

The earliest Cauley-Stein could probably go is fifth, after the top centers (Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor) and guards (D'Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay) are gone. He could also slide toward the back end of the lottery depending on how teams view his offensive future.

Projection: Mid-to-Late Lottery