TO CLOSE

Today's USA, Jeff Zillgitt is on the spot at the NBA Summer League and the excitement elicited by a potential trade by Russell Westbrook has dominated the conversation.
UNITED STATES TODAY & # 39; HUI

The early days of free NBA agency are a frenzy. Players, team management and agents are constantly on the phone. Social media goes crazy trying to absorb every #WojBomb, even, rumor and a bit of news.

For many non-scoring players, the window to sign with a team can open and close quickly. Do not answer a call, send an SMS, an e-mail or a message on time can be the difference between a point of alignment and millions of dollars and continuing to look for work.

But do not tell that to the free agent Willie Cauley-Stein. Because when the Golden State Warriors wanted to offer him a contract, he fished for … well, he was fishing.

"On the first day (free), I sit waiting for the best men to leave," Cauley-Stein told NBC Sports Bay Area on Tuesday. "I started fishing because I was like:" I have to do something with this time. "To sit there waiting was so brutal about my health."

So Cauley-Stein headed for a lake "in boonies", where he had no cell service, and when his agent finally contacted him, he had to turn around to land and drive two miles on a road. to talk to the brass of the warriors.

"I'm sitting on the phone and it's at that time that, well, it's a clock," said Cauley-Stein. "For example, if you do not take that, it probably will not be there in 20 minutes."

Cauley-Stein finally accepted a $ 4.4 million two-year contract with the Warriors, according to L & # 39; athletics – interrupt his peaceful offseason and delay the possibility of winning a trophy for his wall in order to finalize the transaction.

Now, after averaging 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds over four seasons with the Sacramento Kings, he will join a Warriors team that has reached the NBA Finals in each of the last five years, with three championships .

Maybe Cauley-Stein will celebrate by playing a rope. He should simply make sure to tell his agent that he went fishing.

Contributor: Tom Schad

Follow David Harten on Twitter @DavidHarten_CJ.

Automatic reading

Thumbnails poster

Show captions

Last slide next