News and Notes Surrounding Willie Cauley-Stein Ahead of NBA Draft 2015
Impossibly quick for someone standing 7’1”, Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein is one of the few human beings we will ever see capable of guarding all five positions on the basketball court. From his personality to his play, Cauley-Stein is one of the 2015 NBA draft’s most intriguing prospects.
His stock also happens to be slipping quicker than any other prospect in the draft.
Despite lacking any semblance of an offensive game, Cauley-Stein has been on the NBA radar for years, leaping into the first round conversation after blocking better than two shots per game as freshman. Two more impressive seasons at Kentucky solidified his status as the premiere defensive player in the nation, earning him comparisons to Tyson Chandler.
While questions remained about his offense, up until this week it seemed a formality Cauley-Stein was destined for the middle of the lottery.
So what exactly is happening with Cauley-Stein’s draft stock?
The dreaded medical red flag
On Monday, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress reported teams were concerned about an ankle injury Cauley-Stein suffered at the end of his sophomore year.
"Five separate NBA teams we spoke with all indicated varying degrees of concern after consulting with their team doctors this week, with some saying it may cost the Kentucky big man a few spots on draft night. “There is some maintenance that needs to be done there, as it's not completely clear whether the injury healed in a proper way. The pin that was inserted is supposed to be sitting at a 90 degree angle, but instead it's at 45 degrees. That, plus some question marks about his background that came up could cause him to drop a few slots.”
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In his mock draft on Thursday, Chad Ford said surgery to correct the problem would keep Cauley-Stein out four to six months. While that’s a fraction of a basketball career, it’s enough to give teams pause.
Once thought a lock to be drafted in the middle of the lottery, it’s now conceivable Cauley-Stein doesn’t come off the board before the teens. That’s a tough pill for the big man to swallow, especially since he doesn’t see a problem with his ankle, according to Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal:
"Ask the Miami Heat. I was kissing the rim. They don't think there's anything wrong with it."
Where will he wind up?
Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowksi thinks Cauley-Stein could fall out of the lottery completely (h/t Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders):
SB Nation’s Paul Flannery is getting a similar feeling:
Sullinger was expected to be a high lottery pick in 2012 before falling to the Celtics at No. 21 due to a back injury.
Not everyone is convinced Cauley-Stein will be on the board that long.
Steve Popper of The Record in northern New Jersey thinks the Knicks are still interested, albeit not before moving down.
Cauley-Stein would fill the hole created by the trade of Tyson Chandler last summer, and immediately give the Knicks the interior presence they sorely lack.
Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer is hearing the Kings could also be interested in trading down to grab Cauley-Stein.
Sacramento has been searching for a defensive-minded big man to pair with DeMarcus Cousins, and there might not be a better option than Cauley-Stein. Still, no one knows for sure what the Kings are thinking these days.
Meanwhile, CBSSports.com’s Sam Vecenie offered up the most entertaining fit:
The Bucks, picking 17th, are in need of a center after the sudden retirement of Larry Sanders last season. With a roster already loaded with length, Cauley-Stein could make it almost impossible to score against Milwaukee.
Though the uncertainty regarding his status is sure to be agonizing for Cauley-Stein, it’s hard to envision him falling deep into the first round. Players with his defensive potential don’t come around often, and there comes a point in the draft where the reward outweighs the risk.
Phoenix (No. 13), Atlanta (No. 15), Boston (No. 16) and Milwaukee all need athletic rim protectors. While that may be a long way from the middle of the lottery, as Jared Sullinger knows, it could be worse.
Either way, Cauley-Stein remains the name to watch during the NBA draft on Thursday night.
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