Willie Cauley-Stein Says Larry Bird Told Him He's a '$100 Million Player'

Willie Cauley-Stein is weeks away from hearing his name called in the 2015 NBA draft, but the former Kentucky star has clearly made an impression on Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird.    

Per Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star, Cauley-Stein's meeting with Bird and the Pacers at the draft combine resulted in the Hall of Famer telling the 7-footer he can be a "$100 million player":

It will take some time before Cauley-Stein is able to procure that $100 million contract, as rookie deal values are set in stone, but that has to be a nice confidence boost for a 21-year-old on the verge of being a high draft pick on June 25.

Of course, Bird's words do bring added pressure for Cauley-Stein. He's not a natural scorer, with his career high of 8.9 points per game coming last season with Kentucky, but ESPN's Chad Ford notes the star center projects "as a versatile, elite defender who has, time and time again, shut down the opposing team's best player when he's hot."

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Being a $100 million player means Bird believes Cauley-Stein can be one of the best players in the league. The last deal of that kind in the NBA was Chris Bosh's extension with the Miami Heat last summer for $118 million.

There should be more deals like that springing up with a rising salary cap thanks to the new television contract. If things fall right for Cauley-Stein, he apparently knows of at least one team that could make him a nine-figure offer in the future.