Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 132-114. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 132-114. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

Kentucky Wildcats. Willie Cauley-Stein. 6. player. 67. . Center

It’s very strange to say, but the Sacramento Kings may have made a terrific choice at No. 6 in the 2015 NBA Draft by taking Kentucky’s junior big man Willie Cauley-Stein. This pick was a curious one last summer, as many questioned why the Kings would take a defensive center when they already DeMarcus Cousins and other glaring needs.

The truth is, Cauley-Stein provided respectable defensive acumen in his rookie season in 2015-16. Yes, the 107 defensive rating he had is nothing special, but the Kings were easily one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. Despite clunky spacing issues, Cauley-Stein found a way to make a difference on that end of the floor, many times playing alongside the enigmatic Cousins.

Now with the Kings getting a top 15 head coach in former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger, expect Cauley-Stein to be even better defensively in 2016-17. It’s weird to consider, but maybe the Kings see Cauley-Stein as a more important future asset than they do in the always disgruntled Cousins.

Joerger will love having Cauley-Stein to anchor his defense down low. Should general manager Vlade Divac actually trade Cousins sometime next season, at least the Kings have a solid rim protector in Cauley-Stein to hopefully turn around this porous defense. There is certainly room for growth in Sacramento for Cauley-Stein, but this wasn’t as bad of a pick as it looked at the time.

Next: 7. Denver Nuggets

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