Willie Cauley-Stein C Kentucky

[CFAN38]

Cauley-Stein is looking more and more like a very nice consolation prize in this draft. With tier 1 and 1a being Parker, Wiggins, Randle, Exum, Embiid and Smart. Cauley-Stein is looking like one of the top players in the tier 2. He is looking like a high level defensive center prospect who reminds me alot of tyson chandler.

Stats comparisons

This season stats
Cauley-Stein 25min 9.6pts 8.4rb  60%fg 3.9blk 1.3 stl
Last season
Noel         32min 10.5pts 9.5rb 59%fg 4.4blk 2.1stl
2011/12
Davis        32min 14.2pts 10.4rb 62%fg 4.7blk 1.4stl

[Tysonmurray]

I am a huge Kentucky fan. Willie is a good player, he just really sucks at free throws

[Evantime34]

I would add Gordon to the tier 1 group.

I would be fine picking Cauley-Stein 8th as the first player in the next group. I also like Isaiah Austin as a mid first center.

[Birdman]

Im a huge UK fan..Stein is still developing and really don't know if he is a NBA player just yet..7 foot tall doesn't mean u will be a good player in the NBA

[CFAN38]

I am a huge Kentucky fan. Willie is a good player, he just really sucks at free throws

but getting better up to 54% from 37% last year

I would add Gordon to the tier 1 group.

I would be fine picking Cauley-Stein 8th as the first player in the next group. I also like Isaiah Austin as a mid first center.

I worry that Gordon is the bad kind of tweener. Still like him but def not in that top tier of talent.

Austins drop in production and frame worry me.

**Baylor plays Kentucky frday night

[greenmountain]

I like Cauley-Stein.  Not a splashy pick, but one that would give us depth at the center position, which would allow Sullinger to play more minutes at pf.

Aaron Gordon is an enigma to me.  A sf who right now is not much of a sf.  Pretty bad free throw shooter, not sure how his 3pt% will shake out over the course of the season.  His skillset seems pf oriented, but his size just isn't.  He has a lot of work to do, but he's so hyped that he feels destined to be a one-and-done.  There's a lot to like, but I think there are big questions about his game and position that he'll need to address.

[ddb]

I'll pass on both Gordon and WCS.  No Thanks. 

[CFAN38]

watched Louisville vs Kentucky and still very impressed with Cauely-Stein on defense.

When they pressed he was trapping full court and making it back on D keeping up with the guards and played 35min. He also was switching out on the perimeter off of picks. Playing off of but staying in front of the Louisville guards. Very impressing for a guy who is 7'1 and at least 240.

[Smitty77]

The timing of this thread is cool.  I was in KY from Thursday until yesterday and I took every opportunity to speak with KY fans about Stein and his potential at the next level and IF he would come out this year.  Most thought he was ready and that he would make that jump.  Of course, I was wearing my Celtics' green get ups and explained WHY I wanted to know.

I agree that Stein would be a good choice in a draft that really LACKS centers (what we desperately need)IF we miss out on Embiid.

Smitty77

[TwinTower14]

Count me in as the guy that wants no part of him.  He has next to zero offensive ability.  He can block shots, that's about it.  I see him as a guy that is a huge project and will run into foul trouble his whole career....

[Smitty77]

Count me in as the guy that wants no part of him.  He has next to zero offensive ability.  He can block shots, that's about it.  I see him as a guy that is a huge project and will run into foul trouble his whole career....

Foul trouble?  What do you base this on??  He averaged 2.4 fouls per game last year and is averaging 2.5 fouls per game this year!!  Please share with me exactly what you are basing this on.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61842/willie-cauley-stein

Thanks,

Smitty77

[BleedGreen1989]

I don't watch a lot of college basketball, but Willy intrigues me. I see a Roy Hibbert type prospect. People said a lot of the same things when Hibbert came out of Georgetown.

[action781]

He looks like he has potential to be a good defender in the NBA.  I like his defensive bball iq.  He seems to move well on the defensive end for a big fella.  I don't know about him being a #8-10 pick in a supposedly loaded draft though as I don't see any all-star appearances in his future, but I'd be very happy with him in the 10-20 range.  I don't know a ton of college players, so I can't say who I'd draft above him, but those are my rather general feelings.

[Smitty77]

He looks like he has potential to be a good defender in the NBA.  I like his defensive bball iq.  He seems to move well on the defensive end for a big fella.  I don't know about him being a #8-10 pick in a supposedly loaded draft though as I don't see any all-star appearances in his future, but I'd be very happy with him in the 10-20 range.  I don't know a ton of college players, so I can't say who I'd draft above him, but those are my rather general feelings.

Great point.  Nbadraft.net has him going #18.  I would imagine he will end up going in the top 15 or late lottery based mostly on his height and length and the big P word, potential.

Smitty77

[Yenohb]

Remember how Tyson Chandler blossomed when he was paired with Chris Paul in New Orleans.? If he could pan out - and that's a big IF - he could be a great alley-oop running mate of Rondo a la Wilcox.