Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird thinks the world of Kentucky Wildcats prospect Willie Cauley-Stein. In fact, he considers the 21-year-old a future big money talent on the professional level.
"I think you're a $100-million player," Bird told Cauley-Stein during a recent meeting at the NBA Draft Combine, per Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star.
"I hear that and I'm like, 'Really?!'" said Cauley-Stein about Bird's comments.
And seemingly, #Pacers prez of bkb operations Larry Bird is a BIG fan of Willie Cauley-Stein.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) May 15, 2015
Cauley-Stein averaged 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks during his junior season with the Wildcats. Kentucky won 38 straight outings before falling to Wisconsin in the Final Four of the March Madness tournament.
The Pacers, who are projected to have the No. 11 pick in this year's draft, will undoubtedly need to trade up to secure Cauley-Stein's services. Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports has him landing with the Sacramento Kings at No. 6, while DraftExpress.com projects him going one pick earlier to the Orlando Magic.
Bird views Cauley-Stein as a potential starting center, working alongside a small-ball power forward like Paul George in the frontcourt. That could spell doom for Roy Hibbert, though, who's expected to exercise his player option this summer.
It's high praise for an NBA legend like Bird to give that kind of endorsement to a young upstart like Cauley-Stein. Then again, if Joe Johnson can get a $119-million dollar contract, anything is possible.
