Willie Cauley-Stein
This offseason, the Warriors signed former Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein. It’s surprising that Cauley-Stein signed for as little as he did, not having too many other options on the market for the 7-footer.
While his numbers and minutes have dipped, Cauley-Stein has still shown an aptitude on both ends of the court. Shooting 55.5%, Cauley-Stein is averaging just under eight points per game. He is also notching a career-high 1.3 blocks per game.
His lack of production can almost be directly tied to his style of play. Cauley-Stein, as he did with De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento, thrives off a dominant point guard. He’s a solid screen-and-roll player, and with Fox turning the corner, Cauley-Stein was able to succeed.
As Russell’s more an isolation-style player and running the offensive show, Cauley-Stein hasn’t been able to find his footing. On another team with a different style, he may return to the near or over 12 points per game he’s averaged throughout his career.
He may not bring in a huge return, but with a contract at just under $2.2 million, he’s a player that a team in need of quality frontcourt with a tight budget will target. And, to be fair, the Warriors don’t necessarily need Cauley-Stein although he’s one of their only big men.