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NBA: Post-Summer League Rookie Of The Year Standings

By Ezra Siegel

Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Upshaw (12) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Upshaw (12) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number six overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number six overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Willie Cauley-Stein – Sacramento Kings

Cauley-Stein is a dark horse for the NBA Rookie of the Year award. He likely won’t put up the impressive offensive stats that some other rookies will, but he will impact the game defensively from day one.

For the Kings, Cauley-Stein will be playing a similar role to the one he played at Kentucky as a rim protector and rebounder. He will be playing next to arguably the NBA’s best big man in fellow Wildcat alum Demarcus Cousins, which should be somewhat familiar to him after playing next to two top college big men in Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle the last two seasons.

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Washington Wizards' Johnny Davis is not ready for a rotational role /

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    • At Summer League, Cauley-Stein put up impressive numbers as a defender with close to three blocks per game. He also did a nice job of switching on pick and rolls and changing shots at the rim with his long arms and leaping ability.

    While Cauley-Stein is certainly raw and limited on the offensive end, he has legitimate double-double potential in the NBA. His athleticism will make him a prime target for lobs in transitions, cuts to the rim and put-back attempts, and though he needs to improve his consistency, he showed a bit of potential on the block with hook shots and turnarounds jumpers.

    Cauley-Stein’s offensive prowess may be overlooked, but his shot blocking and rebounding ability will likely give him some absurd stat lines next season. If he can rack up blocks, steals and rebounds in a Nerlens Noel-esque manner, he will be in the mix for the Rookie of the Year award.

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