Tag: Willie-Cauley Stein

Could James Wiseman be a good fit for the Warriors?

With his athleticism and energy around the rim, James Wiseman could be a solid fit for the Warriors’ offense.

Because of their high-octane offense, the Golden State Warriors make even average big men look like they’re one of the most effective in the NBA.

The Warriors have done this for Marquese Chriss, and they did it for Willie Cauley-Stein before he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks. They’ve also helped Kevon Looney become a budding paint scorer. During the 2018-19 season, Looney shot 72.4% on shots 0-3 feet from the hoop, per Basketball Reference. 

And now, as they transition from their dominance of the last decade, the Warriors will potentially be looking for their next big man to mold.

The 2020 NBA draft is loaded with talented guards, but James Wiseman is one big who stands out because of his athleticism and quality interior play.

Wiseman is energetic around the basket, which gives him potential as a valuable lob threat and good rebounder.

He didn’t play much at Memphis because he was ruled ineligible in November. Wiseman was declared ineligible because Penny Hardaway gave $11,500 to Wiseman’s family for them to move from Nashville to Memphis in 2017, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Drew Shiller. 

He was reinstated and eligible to return to play in January, according to Kyle Boone of CBS. But he opted to forgo his eligibility and declared for the draft in December, per Dan Feldman of NBC Sports. 

Wiseman played three games in college, scoring 19.7 points per game, grabbing 10.7 rebounds a game and swatting 3.0 blocks a game.

On Tuesday, Draymond Green spoke on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby about how Wiseman could be a solid fit in the Warriors’ offense.

Wiseman is a top prospect, and if the Warriors pick in the top three, they’ll have a good chance to draft him. They have a 14.0% chance to land the No. 1 pick, according to Tankathon. 

“I’ve seen some clips of his workouts and highlights, and he looks to be pretty mobile, a pretty athletic guy,” Green said Tuesday, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Ali Thanawalla. “So with our speed and pace, the way we play, I think he would definitely be a great add if that’s case, but I don’t really know what pick we’re going to get or what pick he’s going to go. I’m a living testament to that. You never know how the draft is going to go and how the cards may fall.”

If anyone knows how well a player would fit on Golden State, it’s definitely Green. Green is arguably the smartest player on the roster, with his playmaking being an integral part of the offense.

Green is so skilled at seeing who’s open on back doors or on the weak side, and he would be a perfect player to pair with Wiseman.

With Wiseman being one of the top prospects, the Warriors have an opportunity to secure their future.

Right now, he doesn’t have much of a game outside of the lane. But with the Warriors already having stars in Green, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, they would simply need Wiseman to be himself: an athletic big who can sky for jams, rebound and defend the rim.

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Report: Former Warrior Willie Cauley-Stein sitting out NBA’s Orlando restart

Former Warriors center Willie Cauley-Stein isn’t expected to join the Dallas Mavericks in Orlando for the NBA’s restart.

With the league’s worst record at 15-50, the Golden State Warriors won’t be traveling to Orlando to finish out the NBA season. Yet, for the Dallas Mavericks, it’s a different story. Led by Luka Dončić
and Kristaps Porziņģis, the Mavs are currently sitting as the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed.

However, for the Mavericks stretch run, they will be without Willie Cauley-Stein. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the former Golden State Warriors center has decided to sit out the NBA’s restart.

Over the offseason, the Kentucky product signed a free-agent deal with the Golden State Warriors. In 41 games in the Bay Area, Cauley Stein averaged 7.9 points, 6.2 boards, 1.5 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

After an injury to Dwight Powell, Dallas acquired Cauley-Stein from Golden State for a 2020 second-round pick. In 12 games with Dallas, Cauley recorded 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per contest.

Although Cauley-Stein won’t be competing in the NBA’s restart, a bevy of former members of the Warriors will be on display in Orlando. Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Quinn Cook, Harrison Barnes, Kent Bazemore, Marco Bellinelli, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III are slated to be on the court when the NBA returns to action.

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Marquese Chriss logs another impressive game in chase for Warriors’ future starting center spot

Marquese Chriss registered a double-double against the Sacramento Kings in only 25 minutes.

Even with a healthy Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors are still missing a true starting center. However, the arrival of Marquese Chriss might fill that opening.

The 2019-20 season has been filled with ups and downs for Chriss. He was signed during training camp and later waived midway through the season when the team needed to open a roster spot for Damion Lee.

The Washington Husky product was later brought back to Golden State on a two-way contract and is now on his way to being the Warriors’ starting center of the future.

The former lottery pick was held out against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday with a calf injury, but was able to suit up against his hometown team.

The Sacramento native tallied 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field while grabbing 10 rebounds. Against the Sacramento Kings, Chriss logged his second game scoring over 20 points with Golden State. Chriss recorded his fifth double-double of the season in only 25 minutes against the Kings.

After the Warriors 112-94 loss to their Northern California rival, Steve Kerr praised the performance of Chriss against the Kings.

Via Golden State Warriors Soundcloud:

I thought Marquese was great again. He’s strung together a really good couple of months here for us. He’s playing with a lot of energy and confidence; he was great again tonight.

Golden State trading Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks prior to the NBA trade deadline opened an opportunity for Chriss, and he’s taken advantage. Since the trade, Chriss has started 11 games and is averaging 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest.

The 22-year-old center’s number could rise once Curry returns from injury. The former two-time Most Valuable Player has a knack for pulling defenders his way, opening up space underneath for the athletic ability of Chriss to shine.

If Curry can return by his target date of March 1, the new center-point guard duo will have 22 games to build chemistry into the offseason. How the two play in the final stretch of games will play a role in the candidacy for Chriss to win the Warriors starting center spot next season.

Updated Warriors future draft picks following the NBA trade deadline

After trading six players at the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors have a new crop of draft picks.

The Golden State Warriors were active leading up to the NBA trade deadline with eyes set towards the future. Bob Myers, Kirk Lacob and Steve Kerr moved six players before the 2020 deadline triggering a complete makeover of Golen State’s roster.

Andrew Wiggins was the only player acquired by the Warriors with the rest of their compensation impacting draft season. Before the deadline ended, Golden State stacked six future picks in the NBA draft.

Below is an updated look at the Golden State’s draft picks for the next three seasons, according to RealGM.com.

2020:

-Golden State Warriors own first-round pick (protected top-20)

-Dallas Mavericks second-round pick

-Utah Jazz second-round pick

2021:

-Golden State Warriors own first-round pick

-Minnesota Timberwolves first-round pick (protected top-3)

-Denver Nuggets second-round pick

-Minnesota Timberwolves second-round pick

2022:

-Golden State Warriors own first-round pick

-Golden State Warriors own second-round pick

-Toronto Raptors second-round pick

The Warriors are now without Willie Cauley-Stein, Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III, D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans III and Omari Spellman. However, the team now has a better outlook when it comes to the future.

Prior to the 2019-20 season, the Golden State Warriors had limited draft capital and several expensive contracts on the books. Adding young talent on rookie deals around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green is a path to preserving Golden State’s chances of remaining in title contention for the future.

Zach LaVine, Tyus Jones say Andrew Wiggins will fit well with Warriors

Andrew Wiggins could end up thriving in Golden State because of having an adjusted role alongside Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.

Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Tyus Jones were all teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves for two seasons.

Now, Wiggins holds the title of former Timberwolves player after being traded to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Wiggins was traded in exchange for D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans III, Omari Spellman, a 2021 top-three protected pick and 2021 second-round pick. Wiggins, the former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2014, had played with the Timberwolves his whole career before being traded.

With Wiggins in a new situation, LaVine and Jones spoke on Twitter about how their former teammate could succeed in the Bay Area.

With this most recent trade, the Warriors are even more in flux, particularly heading into next season. Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III, two players who emerged as key Warriors this season, were traded Wednesday to the Philadelphia 76ers. Willie Cauley-Stein was traded to the Dallas Mavericks near the end of January.

Wiggins isn’t a bad player, but he hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft spot. Still, assuming Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are back at full strength next season, he will end up being in a role where he does not have to score as many points.

Not having as big a role could allow Wiggins to put up more meaningful numbers and have a better effect on the floor. This season, Wiggins ranked second in scoring behind Karl Anthony-Towns. Wiggins is talented — he’s averaged at least 20 points per game three times, including this season.

But for him, being the No. 1 or even No. 2 option isn’t really ideal, as he’s shot 44.1% from the field for his career while having a career 25.6% usage percentage, according to Basketball Reference.

The Warriors will play the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday at Chase Center.

On eve of trade deadline both Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks held out from lineup vs. Nets

On the eve of the NBA trade deadline, both Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III have been scratched from the Warriors’ lineup against the Brooklyn Nets.

It’s been a whirlwind of rumors leading up to the NBA trade deadline for the Golden State Warriors. Over the past five seasons, the Warriors have stayed quiet during the deadline. However, in 2019-20, Golden State has been in the middle of trade chatter across the league.

Leading the buzz is 23-year-old Warriors guard, D’Angelo Russell. Reports have pointed to several teams, including the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves, tapping Russell as a trade target.

While the NBA world is focusing on the status of Russell, Golden State has been active with veterans in their lineup. Willie Cauley Stein was moved to the Dallas Mavericks, and now, Golden State looks to be close to dealing swingmen, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III.

Both Burks and Robinson III have been removed from the lineup before the start of the Warriors game in Brooklyn, with a trade imminent before tomorrow’s deadline, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

 

Both Burks and Robinson III have had breakout years in their first season with Golden State. Burks is averaging 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game with Golden State. Burks has been one of Steve Kerr’s most consistent scorers, dropping 30-points or more twice this season.

Robinson III, only 26-years-old has been an ironman for Golden State in an injury tested season for the rest of the roster. The former Michigan Wolverine started all but three games for Golden State, averaging 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

If Golden State does decide to move on from Burks and Robinson III officially, each will provide to be a viable option off the bench for a contending team.

Updated Warriors 2020 draft picks after Willie Cauley-Stein trade

The Warriors added a second-round draft pick for 2020 when they traded Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Warriors kicked off the 2020 NBA trade season with a move that landed Willie Cauley-Stein in Dallas, netting Golden State a 2020 second-round pick in return. Prior to the Cauley-Stein trade, the Warriors did not own a second-round pick in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026.

Cauley-Stein’s gives Golden State more flexibility with their roster, opening up a spot in the lineup, but also gives the Warriors an extra pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

Golden State’s first-round pick in 2020 will be sent to the Brooklyn Nets, but is protected if the pick lands in the top-20. Fortunately for Golden State, their record is buried deep down in the Western Conference, limiting the chances of their first-round pick being dealt back to Brooklyn.

Below is an updated look at the Golden State Warriors picks for the 2020 NBA draft following the Cauley-Stein trade to Dallas according to Real GM.

  • Golden State’s 2020 1st round pick to Brooklyn (protected for picks 1-20; turns into 2025 second-round pick if protection triggers) 
  • Utah’s 2020 2nd round pick (via Dallas in Willie Cauley-Stein trade)
  • Golden State’s 2020 2nd round pick to Sacramento or Dallas 

The Warriors draft capital is more critical in 2020 than years past due to the transition Golden State’s roster is under. Kevin Durant’s departure to Brooklyn, plus injuries to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, has opened deep holes that’s resulted in the Warriors hanging at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

It’ll be essential for Bob Myers, Steve Kerr and Joe Lacob to find players that can bridge the gap between the “Splash Brothers” era and the imminent future. The Warriors challenge to build their future core starts in the 2020 NBA draft.

 

Alen Smailagic could get increased role post-Willie Cauley-Stein trade

Serbian rookie Alen Smailagic, currently in the G League, could be up for more NBA games after the Warriors dealt Willie Cauley-Stein to Dallas.

With the 2020 NBA trade deadline on the horizon, the first Golden State Warriors’ domino dropped when the Dallas Mavericks finalized a move to acquire Willie Cauley-Stein.

Along with Cauley-Stein, Golden State has other players that could be dealt before the trade deadline on February 6, but in the present, who will step up in the Warriors rotation while the roster is being tinkered?

With Cauley-Stein’s departure to Dallas, and Kevon Looney’s battle with injuries, the Golden State frontcourt has thinned quickly. Draymond Green, Omari Spellman and two-way contract player, Marquese Chriss will eat a lion share of the center minutes without Cauley-Stein.

However, is 19-year-old second-round draft pick, Alen Smailagic in line to see an increased opportunity in Golden State’s frontcourt?

After Golden State’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, Steve Kerr was asked if Smailagic will get the call up from the G League with Cauley-Stein traded to Dallas.

Possibly, I still think it’s more valuable for him to play big minutes in Santa Cruz other than playing shorter minutes here — For sure he’ll be up here for more games at some point during the rest of the season

Since returning from an injury that hampered the start of his basketball career, Smailagic has played nine games in the NBA, averaging 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game.

What Smailagic’s numbers don’t show is the spark that he brings to Golden State’s rotation when he takes the floor. Whether it’s a dunk, a banked-in three-pointer, or a hustle play — the Warriors’ crowd responds to the Serbian rookie’s energy.

Smailagic’s age and experience limit him from even being considered a refined NBA prospect at this point. However, with minutes opening up and the Golden State record dwindling, the 19-year-old has a chance to further his development at the NBA level.

Warriors finalizing trade sending Willie Cauley-Stein to Mavericks

After losing Dwight Powell to a season-ending injury, the Mavericks responded by trading for Willie Cauley-Stein.

It was only a matter of time before the Warriors made a move, and although this wasn’t quite a blockbuster, the team surprisingly agreed to trade Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday afternoon.

The move was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

To say that the 2019-20 season has been a disappointment for Golden State would be a bit of an understatement. Aside from losing Kevin Durant, the team saw mainstays Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston leave the franchise this past summer, as well. Klay Thompson was widely expected to miss the entire season while Stephen Curry, thus far, has made only four appearances.

As a result, the Warriors enter play on January 24 at 10-36 — the worst record in the league.

After signing Cauley-Stein to a two-year, $4.4 million deal this past summer, the club has opted to deal him to Dallas in exchange for a second-round pick in this year’s draft.

In 41 appearances for the Warriors this season, Cauley-Stein averaged 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 22.9 minutes per game. His addition to the Mavericks comes in the aftermath of the team losing Dwight Powell — an important member of their frontcourt — to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

There has been speculation that other members of the Warriors could be on the move, as well. The NBA’s 2020 trade deadline is 3:00 p.m. ET on February 6.

Willie Cauley-Stein excited for Sacramento homecoming with Warriors

After spending the first four years of his NBA career with the Kings, Willie Cauley-Stein is making his return to Sacramento for the first time with Golden State Warriors.

Injuries to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, plus the departure of Kevin Durant, have forced the Golden State Warriors into a transition season. Along the way, the former championship team has added a bevy of new faces to reset their roster.

One of the new arrivals to Golden State is fifth-year center, Willie Cauley-Stein. Prior to joining the Warriors, the former Kentucky Wildcat spent his first four seasons up California’s highway I-80 from San Francisco, in Sacramento.

Cauley-Stein scored tallied 14 points, six steals, five rebounds and two assists in Golden State’s first 2019-20 matchup with Sacramento, but that was at Chase Center in San Francisco. Now, the for Kings center will make his return back to Sacramento as a visitor for the first time in his career.

At the Warriors’ pregame shootaround, Cauley-Stein told reporters he’s excited to be back in the state capital. Still, it’s definitely weird being on the other sideline in the place where his career started, he says.

It’s going to be cool coming back — playing in the spot that I grew up in pretty much — it’s weird being on this side of it though, I’ll be honest — I’m excited, it’s going to be fun.

The Kansas native said it could be a mixed reaction when he’s introduced in Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, but overall he’s expecting much love from the city that supported him throughout his career.

Probably both, probably be love and hate, that’s how it goes when you leave an organization, but shoot — a lot of love, man. I feel like either way it’s a lot of love; I had a lot of support out here, a lot of people that believed in me off the court — it’s going to be cool.

Cauley-Stein said he still follows the Kings when he’s not playing and is happy to see them do well, just as long as it’s not against his new team, the Golden State Warriors.

Golden State’s 26-year-old center has missed the last two games with an illness but is feeling better just in time to return to the city that drafted him sixth overall in 2015.