After four seasons with the Kings, center Willie Cauley-Stein is ready to move on.
His agent told the Sacramento Bee that he has asked the Kings to allow his client to become an unrestricted free agent.
“I really think Willie needs a fresh start,” said Roger Montgomery, a representative of Roc Nation Sports. “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 finished the final year of his four-year contract and the Kings have until June 30 to extend a qualifying offer to make the center a restricted free agent. That would allow the Kings to match any offer Cauley-Stein receives from another team.
Montgomery added: "I'm hopeful they will not even give Willie his qualifying offer."
Cauley-Stein led the Kings to a 39-43 record last season while averaging 11.9 points on 55.6 percent shooting, but his agent feels that the center won't reach his full potential with Sacramento.
"We haven't felt that he's been able to get what has been necessary for him to be able to lead the franchise the way he wants to," Montgomery said. "We are very, very thankful for the opportunity that was presented to him, but we just think it's not working. It's not going to work. It's just time for a fresh start. We need a fresh start and maybe the Kings do, too."
The Kings released a brief statement in response to Montgomery's comments.
“Willie is a great player who has shown he can fit our style of play,” the team said. “Beyond that, we can’t comment further.”
Cauley-Stein, 25, was selected by Sacramento with the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.