Will Willie stay or will he go? Why Kings have difficult decision to make on Cauley-Stein

Usually, I look up to Willie Cauley-Stein because he’s 7 feet tall, often soars above the rim and seems like an interesting guy with a good soul. But this time, I happened to catch him while he was sitting down. That was a relief because I owed him an apology and thought he might be mad at me.

We’re only talking about this now because in a few short days this remarkable season will end, putting the Kings on the clock for some important decisions. One of the most significant and potentially difficult decisions will involve Cauley-Stein, who might be suiting up for his final game in Sacramento when the Kings face the New Orleans Pelicans in their home finale Sunday at Golden 1 Center.

“Sacramento has been my home for the last four years,” Cauley-Stein said. “The relationships you’ve built — this is the only thing I’ve ever known. I don’t know anything else. I’ve got a lot of love on this team. It would be hard to leave, but at the end of the day, it’s a job and it’s whoever is the best fit for me to take that next leap in my career.”

Cauley-Stein, 25, can become a restricted free agent this summer. At least 14 teams are projected to have more than $16 million to spend. Sacramento is expected to have about $37 million, but any of those other teams could make Cauley-Stein an offer that might be imprudent for the Kings to match.

Cauley-Stein’s future has become a focal point since the Kings became the last team eliminated from playoff contention in the Western Conference. Will he stay or will he go?

In a series of recent interviews with The Bee, Cauley-Stein has answered questions about free agency, his vision for himself moving forward and whether he would be willing to stay in Sacramento if it means transitioning to a backup role at some point. The question I didn’t ask was the one I regretted.

While the media was gathered around his locker following Tuesday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets, Cauley-Stein turned to rookie Marvin Bagley III and said: “I can’t wait to get out.”

Cauley-Stein had a certain look on his face. Bagley used sentence fragments to warn Cauley-Stein not to say anything crazy to reporters.

Was Cauley-Stein saying he wanted out of Sacramento? I didn’t ask that question because I thought the implication was clear. Sure, he said it would be difficult to leave, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he feels wanted and wants to stay.

Cauley-Stein has recently hinted he feels undervalued, under-appreciated or perhaps just underused, saying, “I’ve still got more skills that haven’t been brought out,” and, “We don’t take advantage of everything I have.” On top of that, he is savaged almost daily for his inconsistency and other shortcomings by a vocal faction of Kings fans on the internet, and he knows it.

So after watching him score two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes against the Rockets, I thought he might want to “get out” of town. Later that night, I decided to include the comment in my column with the caveat that it was open to interpretation.

That was a mistake without giving him an opportunity to clarify first. That’s why I owed him an apology before Thursday’s victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cauley-Stein — still sitting, thankfully — insisted he just wanted to get out of the locker room, saying the “vibe” wasn’t right that night, a valid explanation that allayed my skepticism.

So maybe he doesn’t want out. Now what?

“I just want to hoop freely,” Cauley-Stein said. “That’s kind of the biggest thing for me, just going somewhere, whether it’s here or anywhere else, and taking that next evolution to the game where you’re not just a rim runner.”

The Kings may not want that, but refusing to match an offer from another organization could alter gravity as we know it in the team’s run-and-gun system. That’s because one of Cauley-Stein’s greatest strengths is his ability to run the floor in an up-tempo offense that pushes and pulls defenses in uncomfortable ways.

He’s long, agile and athletic, maybe the fastest center in the NBA. When he’s running to the rim in transition, he drags defenders into the paint as opponents scramble to get back on defense, leaving shooters such as Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Harrison Barnes, Nemanja Bjelica and De’Aaron Fox open on the perimeter.

“Obviously, when he’s running, we’re at our best,” Kings coach Dave Joerger said. “And he might not get credit for running four or five times in a row, where they have to run to the rim and Buddy gets the walk-in 3.”

Fox agreed.

“The way he’s able to run the floor as fast as we play, I think, is great,” Fox said. “He doesn’t always need the ball. He’s able to make those passes, he’s able to make handoffs, roll (and) catch lobs. I think he’s a great fit for us at (center), an athletic guy who can run the floor. ... I don’t think there’s a true (center) in this league that can get up and down the floor like Willie.”

The Kings have rookie center Harry Giles III waiting in the wings and more than enough money to offer a max contract to a free agent, if they choose. Cauley-Stein said he might be willing to accept a backup role with the Kings “if we’re winning games.”

Hield said Cauley-Stein should do what’s best for him.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen this offseason,” Hield said. “Hopefully, he’s back with us, but if he has a better opportunity, go take it. I would never stop anybody from taking an opportunity if they feel it’s best for them. So he’s our teammate, we love him and we wish him all the best, but it’s not my decision. It’s management’s decision and it’s his decision.”

This will be an important and potentially difficult decision for both parties. In a few short days, both sides will be on the clock, preparing for the start of free agency in July.

Cauley-Stein wants to evolve, wants to get paid, wants to be wanted, but he doesn’t want to be something he’s not.

“You see what other centers in the league are doing,” Cauley-Stein said. “I used to try to compare myself to them. As soon as I stopped comparing myself to them, my game kind of freed up. I don’t have to be the same as Steven Adams. I don’t have to be the same as DeAndre Jordan. I’m Willie Cauley-Stein. I don’t want to be like nobody else. I just want to be me.”

This story was originally published April 5, 2019 at 6:23 AM.