Agent says Cauley-Stein wants to leave Kings: 'Willie needs a fresh start'

The Sacramento Kings enjoyed their most successful season in over a decade in 2018-19, but they may soon be forced to part with their starting center.

Willie Cauley-Stein played a crucial role in the Kings' success on both ends of the floor, but the Kentucky product is apparently ready to find a new home instead of getting stuck in Sacramento's center rotation.

"I really think Willie needs a fresh start," said Cauley-Stein's agent, Roger Montgomery, according to The Sacramento Bee's Jason Anderson. "Based on how things have gone for him there in Sacramento, I just think it's time for Willie to move on and we'd really like him to move on."

Cauley-Stein has played for three different head coaches since Sacramento drafted him sixth overall in 2015. With the big man set to become a restricted free agent, Montgomery said he hopes his client has an opportunity to leave for a more stable situation given the uncertainty surrounding his role and the Kings organization moving forward.

"We've kind of hoped that things would change over the years and Willie would get a chance to expand his game, get a chance to get some consistency there in terms of the roster turnover and the coaching turnover and the things that have not been steady there," Montgomery said. "That being said, I'm hopeful they will not even give Willie his qualifying offer so Willie can be an unrestricted free agent."

The 25-year-old averaged 11.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 81 games this past season.