Cauley-Stein being dealt to Mavericks
SAN FRANCISCO >> The Warriors have agreed to trade center Willie CauleyStein to the Dallas Mavericks, league sources confirmed with Bay Area News Group. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
Dallas will send Utah’s 2020 secondround pick to the Warriors. Before Friday, Golden State had only one second-round pick in the next six drafts.
The move frees up an additional roster spot for the Warriors and $2.57 million in space under the hard cap. Now with two open roster spots, the Warriors could use the cap space to promote both twoway contract players — guard Ky Bowman or center Marquese Chriss — to standard contracts, if they so choose. Bowman has three days of NBA service remaining of his 45-day allotment, while Chriss has 20.
The Warriors will also gain a $2.17
million trade exception, which they could use to acquire a player via trade without sending back matching salary. The trade exception expires one year from the date it was created.
Cauley-Stein, 26, signed a two-year $4.4 million deal with a player option for the second season with Golden State last summer. In 41 games (37 starts), he averaged 7.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 22.9 minutes per game.
Without Cauley-Stein, who started the last four games, Omari Spellman and Chriss, and possibly rookie Alen Smailagic, will absorb his minutes at center. Kevon Looney remains sidelined with an abdominal strain, and there is no timetable for his return.
The NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 6, and the Warriors could still make more moves before then.
“One of the biggest things to do as a coach is to make sure you are communicating with your guys and staying in touch with everybody and making sure everyone is doing OK,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “But also acknowledging the realities of our job.”
Earlier on Friday, the Mavericks traded rookie Isaiah Roby to the Thunder for center Justin Patton, who they will waive to clear a roster spot for Cauley-Stein. For Dallas, it acquires a center after Dwight Powell suffered a seasonending Achilles tear against the Clippers this week.