Can Hawks Move Up and Grab Willie Cauley-Stein?

The NBA Draft is tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Atlanta Hawks have the 15^th pick.

In recent days there has been a lot of discussion about the Atlanta Hawks willingness to move up in the draft. As it currently stands, the Hawks pick at #15 will net them a complimentary role player they can develop but they are too far down in the draft to grab a projected star. Nor, does the #15 pick protect the Hawks if they lose Paul Millsap or DeMarre Carroll, or both.

So given that reality, the Atlanta Hawks have to be bold in their selection and why not, it can’t hurt. The Hawks are not grabbing a superstar at their current position. So on draft night, why not take advantage of a player who is slipping faster than a rock on a wet hill.

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) drives to the basket and steps out of bounds defended by Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) in the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men

Willie Cauley-Stein played at Kentucky for 3 years, leaving after his junior year. A three year college player is a peculiarity in this day and age with freshman bolting to the NBA in droves. If freshmen don’t leave for the pros, that is usually a red flag, signaling some deficit in their game.

For Cauley- Stein it is his offense. If it’s not an offensive rebound and then a dunk, he cannot score which is a problem since he is entering a league in which scoring is the point.

But Cauley-Stein does one thing brilliantly. No one in this draft class and probably the last five draft classes can match him in this one area: defense, particularly on the perimeter. He can guard all five positions. His footwork earns superlative ratings. The way scouts see it, he can stay with Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, Kevin Durant. His pick and roll defense is superior. He erases mistakes with his shot blocking.

"“I’m an elite defender. I’ve got a lot of gifts and you can’t teach and that makes me a high asset.” Willie Cauley-Stein, USA Today"

In the NCAA tournament, in a game against Notre Dame, in the closing seconds, seven footer Cauley- Stein guarded point guard Jerian Grant all the way up the court and forced him into a tough three pointer that Grant missed which sealed the game for Kentucky.

That is the type of player Cauley-Stein is. He is Kawhi Leonard and Tony Allen rolled into one and add about six more inches and 80 pounds onto his frame.

In last possessions, every team needs one guy who can stop the best player on the other team. That is Cauley-Stein.

"“I’m not our cookie cutter athlete and that scares people. People don’t know how to take that. I take it to heart when people say I am not focused or I don’t love the game. “ Willie Cauley-Stein, USA Today"

Imagine if the Hawks had him in the playoffs this year. He is athletic enough to out jump Tristan Thompson for all of those offensive rebounds. He could guard and stay with LeBron in the post forcing LeBron to have to 1) alter his shot, or, 2) out leap him. And a little shove to Matthew Dellavedova when the refs weren’t looking would have gotten the point across.

But how likely is it that the Hawks have any chance at him?

Not much. To move up in the draft you have to have assets and the only asset the Hawks have that they may be willing to move is Dennis Schroder.

Cauley Stein has a lingering foot injury that is causing front offices to hesitate. This same scenario happened last year to Juilus Randle, a top four pick who fell to seven because he had a lingering foot issue too. So instead of going 6^th, Cauley-Stein may end up going 9^th or 10^th.