Golden State Warriors: Why Willie Cauley-Stein is a better fit than Cousins

SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 14: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 14, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Defense

An obvious upgrade on Cousins is Cauley-Stein’s effectiveness on the defensive end. During his stint with the Kings, the former Kentucky alum established himself as a tremendous rim protector, something Cousins didn’t excel at.

In addition, Cauley-Stein excels at hedging on pick and rolls and during his time in the NBA, he has proven to be a strong paint enforcer. However, the biggest difference is that he should be able to defend guards off the dribble at a much better rate than Cousins did.

Prior to the 2015 draft, NBAdraftnet described Cauley-Stein as a player who is both extremely gifted from a measurements standpoint, but also in terms of athleticism. During his tenure in the NBA thus far, Cauley-Stein has shown his ability defensive end.

Cauley-Stein looks to be an immediate upgrade on Cousins (defensively) who was often a liability due to his defensive limitations. This will help the Warriors return to both a dominant defensive and offense team.

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