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There is no doubt Willie Cauley-Stein will be chosen in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, due to his superb defensive skills he displayed during his three years with the Kentucky Wildcats. With that said, he certainly is not going to be a magnificent game changer for any team. That is why it is ridiculous for Indiana Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird to make the delirious comment that he did regarding Cauley-Stein’s earning potential at the professional level.
The following is a tweet from Indianapolis Star’s Candace Buckner, in which she describes how Cauley-Stein’s recent meeting with Bird and the Pacers went:
WCS on his meeting w/ #Pacers: “Larry (Bird) told me, ‘I think you’re a $100 million dollar player.’ I hear that and I’m like, ‘Really?!’”
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) May 15, 2015
Bird either has lost his marbles and actually believes Cauley-Stein will be worth $100 million at some point in his career, or he is setting up other teams to select the forward ahead of Indiana’s No. 11 pick in hopes of landing a more talented player.
Cauley-Stein has arguably the best defensive skill-set of any player in the draft. For that reason, teams looking for a defensive-oriented player should certainly consider selecting him. However, his biggest weakness is he is only going to be an asset on defense, as his offensive game is projected to be non-existent at the next level.
His jump shot and game in the post need severe work. Not to mention, he failed to show up in big contests this past season. More specifically, his two points and five rebounds in a loss to the Wisconsin Badgers was an incredibly disappointing effort with the season on the line.
Some mock drafts have Cauley-Stein being available at the No. 11 overall pick, which would work brilliantly for the Pacers if they truly believe he is going to be a top-notch player. Meanwhile, others are convinced Indiana would have to trade up to land the big man.
Apparently, the Pacers believe Cauley-Stein would fit perfectly at center, while moving Paul George to the four-position to create mismatches. If that be the case, they may just do whatever it takes to land who the organization believes may just be the most gifted player in the draft.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
