Kings’ Willie Cauley-Stein welcomes summertime lessons: It’s one thing to tell a young player how to improve. But Willie Cauley-Stein is seeing what it takes to elevate his game. The Kings’ second-year center is gaining experience and knowledge as a member of the USA Select Team, which is practicing against the U.S. Olympic team in preparation for the Games in Rio de Janeiro. Playing on the Kings’ summer league team and the Select Team has been enlightening for Cauley-Stein. -- The Sacramento Bee

Clock is ticking with Kings' plan, but can Cousins wait?: The interview lasted more than 12 minutes Monday at Team USA's first official practice. The topics ranged anywhere from Carmelo Anthony’s fourth Olympics to what playing for Team USA’s Select Club will mean for second-year big man Willie Cauley-Stein. But the only quote bites you read from DeMarcus Cousins’ first day of Olympic minicamp are about the Kings offseason to date. Cousins, like everyone else, sat stunned when the Kings moved from No. 8 in the 2016 NBA Draft down to No. 13 and No. 28. But things got a little more uncomfortable for the star big when the Kings passed on guards Wade Baldwin and Denzel Valentine in favor of a 7-foot-2 center that plays his position. -- CSN California

Kings to play two preseason games at new Golden 1 Center: The Sacramento Kings on Tuesday announced their 2016-17 NBA preseason schedule, which opens with consecutive games on the road against the LA Lakers on Tuesday, October 4 in Anaheim at the Honda Center (7 p.m. PDT), followed by a matchup with the Golden State Warriors in San Jose at the SAP Center on Thursday, October 6 (7:30 p.m. PDT). -- CSN California