James Ham: According to Dave Joerger, Cauley-Stein will start for Sacramento after missing the previous game due to a personal matter.
Willie Cauley-Stein Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C
Born: 08/18/93
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:244 lbs. / 110.7 kg.
Salary: $4,696,874
Born: 08/18/93
Height: 7-0 / 2.13
Weight:244 lbs. / 110.7 kg.
Salary: $4,696,874
Cauley-Stein has been embroiled in a minor controversy over the last few days regarding a statement he made that was misinterpreted by a local Sacramento reporter following the team’s loss to the Rockets on Tuesday. According to a league source, his absence has nothing to do with that situation. He is away from the team due to a serious family issue and will miss his first game of the season after starting the first 79 contests for Sacramento.
Sean Cunningham: Kings will be without center Willie Cauley-Stein tonight on Utah Because of personal reasons. He is not with the team
While the media was gathered around his locker following Tuesday’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 — 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.”
Sean Cunningham: Marvin Bagley III will start for the second time of his NBA career tonight for the Kings in Minnesota, joining Fox, Hield, Barnes & Cauley-Stein.
