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Willie Cauley-Stein has found his next NBA home.
According to Chris Haynes, Cauley-Stein has agreed to a deal with the Golden State Warriors.
The former Kentucky Wildcats star is getting his wish after his agent recently told reporters his client wanted a fresh start with a new team. The Kings initially extended the qualifying offer to Cauley-Stein, making him a restricted free agent and keeping their options open, but they had to rescind the offer once they signed Harrison Barnes and Cory Joseph to big contracts.
Cauley-Stein averaged 11.9 points (.556 FG%, .551 FT%), 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 81 games during the 2018-19 season. Selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Cauley-Stein has averaged 10.1 points (.534 FG%, .611 FT%), 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 295 games over four years in Sacramento.
Part of what appealed to the Warriors about Willie Cauley-Stein, I'm told, is his pick-and-roll ability. Personnel will force them to run more this upcoming season. WCS can operate up top with both Steph Curry and -- especially when Curry/Draymond sit -- D'Angelo Russell.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) July 2, 2019
After enduring losing seasons in each of his first four seasons, Cauley-Stein now joins a franchise coming off five straight trips to the NBA Finals. Though they’ll obviously take a step back after losing Kevin Durant while Klay Thompson recovers from a torn ACL, they still have Steph Curry, D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green, so they should help the former Cat reach the postseason for the first time.
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