Cauley-Stein a versatile defender, but ...

[JHTruth]

Watching him kill Auburn right now. Perfect draft pick for us. Naturally we're not going to be in a position to draft him..don't worry about it..

Well, yeah, he killed Auburn. I think their tallest player was something like 6'6" in that game. Heck, if I remember what Bruce Pearl said correctly it was something like, "The shortest starter for KU was taller than the tallest starter for AU." When asked when he knew his team was going to lose the said, "When the starting lineups were announced."   Auburn played them hard, though, didn't quit...just weren't nearly good enough to make it a game.

OTOH, I've watched Cauley Stein 9 times this year. He can credibly guard every position on the floor, has quietly improved his entire game this year, always plays within the team concept, is an unselfish player, runs like a deer, blocks shots down and to team mates (not out of bounds), plays well above the rim...and would fit the C's needs like a glove.

He could grow very nicely into the KG-esque anchor-eraser role. Dang I want him..

[Eddie20]

Pelton: The big positive with Cauley-Stein is something my projection system usually loves: steal rate. Among players listed as centers in my database, Cauley-Stein's projected steal percentage (1.7 percent) would rank third behind DeJuan Blair and Nerlens Noel. In terms of both projected steal percentage and block percentage (4.4 percent), just two players can beat Cauley-Stein: Kentucky predecessors Noel and Anthony Davis.


The difference between Cauley-Stein and those players is on the glass. His projected defensive rebound percentage (15.9 percent) would be the worst of any NBA-bound center in my database. Cauley-Stein has had plenty of competition for rebounds from his teammates, including Noel, Julius Randle and now Karl-Anthony Towns. An adjustment for that competition is one reason Cauley-Stein scores so much better in Layne Vashro's draft projections. Still, it's hard to project Cauley-Stein as even an average rebounder in the NBA.

I don't want to equate athleticism with rebounding. He would give us a versatile defender which our team much needs, but Pelton has serious concerns about his rebounding ability. My concern is that he is basically a better Ryan Hollins, who can defend the pick-and-roll and block shots, but cannot rebound against NBA bigs and cannot give you much help offensively.

This was from a Pelton and Ford discussion on Cauley-Stein. I added the first part Pelton wrote to your quote (in bold) and below Ford's response:

Cauley-Stein projects as a versatile, elite defender who has, time and time again, shut down the opposing team's best player when he's hot. I think he's a much better shot-blocker than his stats show this season. He's typically on the floor with another elite shot-blocker, Towns. With Towns protecting the rim, head coach John Calipari has used Cauley-Stein in all sorts of creative ways, including chasing players down on the perimeter and funneling them into a waiting Towns. If Towns wasn't on this team, Cauley-Stein would be used differently (like he was last season with Julius Randle) and his blocks would be way up.

While you're concerned about his rebounding numbers, it's his offense (or lack thereof) that scares me. He's still, three years into his college career, a major work in progress on offense. He's great in the open floor and alley-oops. He's showing the beginnings of a nice mid-range jumper. But his post game is still very raw and his shot selection can be highly questionable. He's going to be an offensive liability for a while.

The other knock you'll occasionally hear about Cauley-Stein is his personality. He's quirky and his entire life doesn't just center on basketball the way it does for so many other top prospects. That scares teams and makes them wonder whether he'll have the drive to improve his game at the next level.

[jonaslopes]

Seeing a lot of talks about WCS but not much about Kaminsky who I think would be the best fit in our system!!

He is. But don't say it too loud around here.

[Eddie20]

Seeing a lot of talks about WCS but not much about Kaminsky who I think would be the best fit in our system!!

He is. But don't say it too loud around here.

He brings a redundant skill set to our team, while Cauley-Stein adds something that we currently don't have.

I do wonder, which would be the worse defensive tandem though.

Sullinger & Olynyk
Kaminsky & Olynyk
Kaminsky & Sullinger

[Cman]

.... but, will be picked long before the Cs pick.

I think of it this way. There are question marks about WCS. I'd be scared off if I was a team picking in the top 8 or so. But, the Cs are going to be picking at #15 or so. If for some reason WCS falls to #15, then it strikes me as a no brainer. Worst case scenario, he's a bust. But I can't complain with a gamble like that at #15.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Seeing a lot of talks about WCS but not much about Kaminsky who I think would be the best fit in our system!! We need scoring big as much as we need shot blocking... Kaminsky skill level will provide us even more options on offense and he might be easier to trade up for him than WCS...

I agree, he'd fit right in with our system of unathletic role players

[KeepRondo]

.... but, will be picked long before the Cs pick.

I think of it this way. There are question marks about WCS. I'd be scared off if I was a team picking in the top 8 or so. But, the Cs are going to be picking at #15 or so. If for some reason WCS falls to #15, then it strikes me as a no brainer. Worst case scenario, he's a bust. But I can't complain with a gamble like that at #15.

I think WCS goes sooner. He could be a top 4 pick.

And to the OP, don't get caught up on the stats. Just watch the game and you can see the impact WCS has. The recovery speed and the ground he can cover for a 7 footer is crazy. He definitely makes his teammate, Towns, look pretty slow in comparison.

[Ogaju]

why are we talking about a player that will be gone long before the Celtic's pick. There is a price to pay for not tanking -- you don't get to salivate over players like WCS.

[GreenGoggles]

I don't get the hype behind WCS at all. I think he's at the very best a very poor mans Tyson Chandler.

[Ogaju]

You call him a poor man's Tyson Chandler and you don't know why the hype???

[Celtics4ever]

I don't get the hype behind WCS at all. I think he's at the very best a very poor mans Tyson Chandler.

He is a better athlete than Chandler.  Chandler was a good enough to anchor the defensive front court on a champion.

[Ogaju]

I don't get the hype behind WCS at all. I think he's at the very best a very poor mans Tyson Chandler.

He is a better athlete than Chandler.  Chandler was a good enough to anchor the defensive front court on a champion.

Yeah but he 'doesn't get the hype'

One thing I notice is that he is very active. Watch a Kentucky game and his name sure comes up a lot.

[GreenGoggles]

I don't get the hype behind WCS at all. I think he's at the very best a very poor mans Tyson Chandler.

He is a better athlete than Chandler.  Chandler was a good enough to anchor the defensive front court on a champion.

Yeah but he doesn't get the hype???

One thing I notice is that he is very active. Watch a Kentucky game and his name sure comes up a lot.

I have been watching the games and I just don't see it. Just an opinion. Karl Anthony Towns is the player that really stands out to me. Kid looks special. WCS just looks like another 7 foot big with 0 offensive game.

[Kevin OConnor]

WCS has the potential to be a DPOTY. 'Nuff said.

[Eja117]

I kinda don't like that WCS has thousands of dollars of tattoos all over him, but I also think college players should get paid so ....