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Dallas Mavericks: Willie Cauley-Stein reportedly wants out of Sacramento

ByKohl Rast|
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 7: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 7, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 7: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 7, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Willie Cauley-Stein reportedly told the Sacramento Kings that he wants out this year. WCS is entering restricted free agency unless the Kings do not extend him the qualifying offer. The Dallas Mavericks will likely be tied to WCS going forward.

Willie Cauley-Stein wants to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, according to his agent via Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. Cauley-Stein just completed the final year of his rookie contract and is set to become a restricted free agent. The Dallas Mavericks have not been tied to Cauley-Stein up to this point, but it is bound to happen sooner or later.

In the report, the main thing was that WCS was looking for something new to spark his career. Coming into the NBA via the 6th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Cauley-Stein was viewed as a more raw talent with a lot of upside. He has gotten better and better over the four years statistically, but his mentality has been a concern.

WCS now finds himself on the outside looking into the primary rotation for the Kings. For this reason, he wants a fresh start and wants to see what options he may have in free agency. Chances are, some teams will have interest in the big man.

His hope is to become an unrestricted free agent, but that does hinge on whether or not the Kings want to go that route. If WCS really is unhappy, I can’t imagine Sacramento choosing to keep him on as a restricted free agent. If this report is accurate, I would expect Cauley-Stein to get his wish in free agency.

https://twitter.com/JandersonSacBee/status/1142622481762570241

Every center on the free agency market or even the trade market will likely be linked to the Dallas Mavericks in some way or another. Most of them will be substance-less rumors trying to play the “fit” game, but there could be legitimate sources saying there is interest.

I personally hope there is not any interest from the Mavs for WCS. Although I do think he would pair alright with Kristaps Porzingis, his attitude and lack of major growth since joining the league are worrisome. The hope would be that he could add a lot of rebounding for the team as well as be a rim-runner, but I am not convinced that he would be any better than Dwight Powell in these areas.

The Dallas Mavericks are ready to be buyers this summer, but they need to be sure to make the right pick. There will be a lot of good teams looking for a lot of good players, but the Mavs will be in the running for a lot of them. We will find out in a week if one of those guys is Willie Caauley-Stein.

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