The Golden State Warriors wound up with a shocking addition in Willie Cauley-Stein, a center who was hoping to get big money this summer, but fell short of the expectations with the Sacramento Kings, who eventually withdrew their formal qualifying offer.
The Warriors like Cauley-Stein's pick-and-roll potential, adding a 7-footer who could set powerful screens while darting to the basket for an alley-oop or a strong finish around the rim.
The 25-year-old has envisioned that same mindset for his game, not surprised the team liked his pick-and-roll ability, despite being known as a motion offensive team:
“Not surprised, but happy about it,” said Cauley-Stein, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. “I’m going into a situation where my strengths play a big key into what we’re doing.”
A short chat with head coach Steve Kerr opened the center's mind to a partnership with franchise star Stephen Curry and newcomer D'Angelo Russell, along with the potential of catching lobs from Draymond Green, who has been fond of the big-to-big passing connection:
“Yeah, he was just excited,” said Cauley-Stein of his brief conversation with Kerr. “Talked about the pick-and-roll with D-Lo, Steph on the backside. Just running, playing with Draymond. It was an exciting conversation.”
Cauley-Stein also has the potential to vastly improve as a defender, already boasting the size to be a good shot blocker, now part of a system in which his weak-side help and defensive awareness will be needed more than ever while he's sharing the court with a former Defensive Player of the Year in Green.
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