The Kings have until June 30 to submit a qualifying offer to Willie Cauley-Stein, but his agent is urging them not to.
Roger Montgomery of Roc Nation Sports told Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee that his client would be better off with another team.
“I really think Willie needs a fresh start,” he said. “Based on how things have gone for him there in Sacramento, I just think it’s time for Willie to move on and we’d really like him to move on.”
Cauley-Stein has spent four years in Sacramento after being the sixth pick in the 2015 draft. He became a full-time starter this season, averaging 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in 81 games. However, consistency and shaky defense have been concerns.
The Kings issued a statement in response to Montgomery’s comments, but gave no indication about their plans for a qualifying offer.
“Willie is a great player who has shown he can fit our style of play,” the statement read. “Beyond that, we can’t comment further.”
Cauley-Stein made nearly $4.7MM this season in the final year of his rookie contract. He is headed for free agency because he didn’t reach an extension agreement with the team last fall. The Kings can make him restricted, allowing them to match any offer, by extending a $6,265,631 QO.
“We’ve kind of hoped that things would change over the years and Willie would get a chance to expand his game, get a chance to get some consistency there in terms of the roster turnover and the coaching turnover and the things that have not been steady there,” Montgomery said. “That being said, I’m hopeful they will not even give Willie his qualifying offer so Willie can be an unrestricted free agent.”
The Kings have plenty of cap room to find a replacement if they decide to let Cauley-Stein go. Anderson mentions Nikola Vucevic, DeAndre Jordan, Jonas Valanciunas and Dewayne Dedmon as possible targets.
Pfffft… Willie doesn’t have the pull to dictate terms… The only reason they wouldn’t extend a QO is if they don’t want him.
Leverage against other teams to keep his cost low.
I wouldn’t want a guy with face tattoos as a part of my future for my franchise either.
Grow up
-willies agent
Surprised he’s not linked to the lakers yet
Why would they ? They can get Javale on the minimum plus they won’t be able to pay him.
I still believe Atlanta would be the best landing spot for him.
He looks the part, but can’t play it. Limited offense game and can’t protect the rim. Q/O sure, why not? If they can’t get a real C in FA, and they’re not ready to go with Giles and Bagley together, he’ll be there on the Q/O or a similar short term deal.
Bye!! I am down for the Kings to find a center who plays hard every night not just he feels like it.
He’s delusional. He’s a backup at best.
If they offered qualifying offer he would be wise to accept it…can’t imagine he’d land a deal with an annual salary of $6.3M
Giles has way more upside anyway. But kings will extend QO if some team breaks him off they pass on matching. If it stays low u match and trade him for something. Prolly a sack of used basketballs unless he learns to do something beside run up and down court
This guy is just one traffic stop away from playing pick up games in the Cali correctional leagues.
Willie weak-link is already well situated. His optimal results are whatever his stats are.
Maybe if he was Consistent every night he would have gotten a QO. I say CYA. Let’s sign D. Jordan, E. Kanter J. Valanciunas or D, Drummond. I think we would be a lot better off with one of them than WCS.