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Larry Bird Says Willie Cauley-Stein Is A $100 Million Player

By Ben Gibson

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) reacts after a dunk against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) reacts after a dunk against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men /
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Willie Trill Cauley-Stein is expected to go around the 8th pick in June’s NBA Draft, but that doesn’t mean Larry Bird isn’t think about making a move to pick up the big man from Kentucky. Bird was very impressed with Cauley-Stein, saying he was a $100 million player. Although the Pacers would likely have to make a trade to get Cauley-Stein, judging from the player’s comments you have to think the Indiana Pacers are at least entertaining the idea.

A big-man built like Cauley-Stein fits into the idea of a smaller and faster Indiana Pacers team. That isn’t just something said to motivate Roy Hibbert; The Pacers have been telling their potential picks that the team’s philosophy is evolving. Candace Buckner of the Indy Star quoted Texas center Myles Turner recently saying that Indiana expects their big men to shoot.

"“They’re changing their style of play,” said former Texas big man Myles Turner, who was one of the nine players who interviewed with the Pacers on Wednesday. “They want to move to a faster — I don’t want to say guard-oriented but they want to get smaller and they need guys who can shoot as well. So I know in the bigs department, they’re looking for someone who can do those type of things.”"

With Hibbert’s future in Indiana in doubt it will be interesting to see what Indiana does with this year’s draft if they are going to chance their style of play. Hibbert may not be an offensive weapon, but he still is an elite rim-defender that coach Frank Vogel plans the entire defense around. The Pacers may want to get smaller and faster but if they do the will likely need an overhaul in scheme as well as personnel to make the plan work.

It is hard to predict if the Pacers will make a trade to move up in the draft to get Cauley-Stein or if they’ll see who is available at the 11th pick (less than a 3% chance to move into the top 3), but expect to hear rumors between now and June 25th.

Next: Seven Big Men Options for the Pacers in the Draft

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