Which NBA Draft Prospects Should Be On The Radar For The Warriors?

For the first time since 2012, when the Golden State Warriors took Harrison Barnes seventh overall, the franchise will have a lottery pick on their hands going into the 2020 NBA Draft.

The pick, which is assuredly going to land in the Top 4, and that’s the worst-case outcome, could play a huge factor in Golden State’s immediate and long-term future.

So, which direction should they go?

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Centers

A position frequently brought up as the weak pillar to Golden State’s roster construction is the center. Warriors fans have often called for players not named Zaza Pachulia or JaVale McGee, and this draft could be the time to change that.

The two obvious candidates are James Wiseman from Memphis and Onyeka Okongwu from USC. Both share similar skillsets, so let’s key in on Wiseman given his superior size.

Wiseman, an athletic 7’1 player who can put up points near the rim, rebound at a high level, and block and change shots, would have been the hands-down obvious number one selection 15 years ago.

In today’s game, however, centers are being asked to do much more than back then.

Centers are required to be switchable and chase around smaller guards on the perimeter, while simultaneously having the responsibility of protecting the basket. They’re also asked to take, and make, three-point shots to help spread out opposing defenses. And of course, they still need to carry the responsibility of being verbal and calling out plays as they spot them defensively.

That’s a lot to ask of anyone, and the question hovering over Wiseman is whether or not he can complete those tasks, or whether he will top out as a throw-back center.

For the Warriors specifically, there are some clear advantages in taking Wiseman.

Setting aside for a moment the question marks, Wiseman would immediately be able to contribute on the next level as a rim-roller and lob threat. He’d also immediately assist on the boards and his 7’6 wingspan will challenge shots defensively.

While that isn’t as versatile as what players such as Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns offer, it isn’t irrelevant. It would almost come as a shock, if Wiseman wasn’t a nightly double-double threat. His 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks per night came on a ridiculously small sample size of just three games before he left Memphis, but given how dominant he looked in those games, it’s fair to make certain assumptions about his on-court production had he stayed in the program.

Is there a better cast of characters in the league to help develop a highly-touted rookie than Golden State’s? Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson remain two of the best shooters of all-time, just as Draymond Green remain one of the most versatile defenders the league has ever seen.

Those are great teaching components to have at your availability if you’re Wiseman. Just going through practice, and having to read and try to react to Curry is a lesson in and of itself. There isn’t a more unpredictable guy in the NBA, given his ability to essentially pull up from 35 feet from the basket whenever he pleases.

Defensively, studying Green should add several layers of know-how to Wiseman’s development, and fairly quickly.

It also bears mention that Steve Kerr has a strong report with players, and the coaching staff would make Wiseman’s development a significant priority. For a team looking to get back to the Finals, adding a player who can inject some youth and explosiveness, might be exactly what they need.

The flipside to Wiseman, and in extension Okongwu, is a question that roams larger and larger for every passing off-season.

“Can you find a center in free agency, who provides you with most of your needs, at a low price?”

Last summer, Richaun Holmes signed in Sacramento for $9.77 million over two years. Holmes posted a rock solid 12.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in just 28.8 minutes per game, while hitting over 66 percent of his shots from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line.

If the Warriors had the inkling that they could get a center of similar caliber as Holmes in free agency, for a similar monetary amount, would it make sense to spend a Top 4 selection on a center, when they – in theory – could select a wing instead, who on today’s free agent market would cost a premium?

At the end of the day, it comes down to expectations and asset management. There’s little doubt Wiseman or Okongwu would make solid NBA players. It’s just a question of whether they will become far more than that.

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Forwards

The Warriors already have their forwards in place, as they’re starting the aforementioned Green and Andrew Wiggins. But that shouldn’t prevent them from taking a deep look at the crop of available forwards, chief among them being Israeli forward Deni Avdija.

The 19-year-old wing just walked away with Israeli League MVP honors and has in recent weeks shot up draft boards.

The reason is simple: Avdija is a multi-skilled combo-forward, who can function as a secondary playmaker, make shots from the outside and mix it up in the mid-range area.

His numbers of 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds won’t wow anyone, but for someone his age, that is considered elite production internationally.

Avidja’s unselfish nature and floor-spreading capabilities would be an instant hit with the Warriors, who love players who can move the ball quickly and frequently, while at the same time not to be timid about shooting the ball when the opportunity presents itself.

Worth noting is that Avdija speaks English at a high level, which makes any potential cultural barrier much easier to navigate and communicate through. This, too, was the case back in 2015 when the Knicks selected Kristaps Porzingis, who already spoke fluently which helped accelerate his development.

Avdija might not project as a leading man anytime soon, but the Warriors can afford to be patient with him, and ease his transition from rookie contributor to established veteran leader in the years Curry, Thompson and Green age. When it’s their time to scale back, logic would dictate Avdija is ready to carry a bigger burden.

Obi Toppin from Dayton is another interesting name.

He’s already 22 and should be an immediate contributor at the next level. He projects as a powerful roller and lob threat, with ample on-ball skills to get from Point A to B in short bursts, and just enough shooting range to get defenders’ attention. His 20-point average on over 63 percent from the field certainly caught the attention of NBA scouts.

The questions begin to roll in when it comes to how much flexibility there is in his game. The NBA has begun embracing the positionless format, but Toppin’s game suggests he’s too slowfooted and mechanical to play the wing, but too slight (6’9, 220) and ineffective to slide up to center. As it stands, Toppin is a power forward through and through, which could make it difficult for the Warriors to maximize their line-ups.

That said, Toppin is a legitimate scorer and a physical specimen who will let his presence be known on offense. His ability to finish around the rim would mesh well with Curry and Thompson, especially in half-court situations.

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Guards

It’s fair to question whether it makes sense to draft a guard, considering how set the Warriors are at both spots. That said, two players in this draft carry such significant potential, they need to be factored in.

Despite playing just 12 games for the Illawarra Hawks in the Australian NBL, LaMelo Ball made it clear his court vision is second to none in this draft. The 18-year-old has tremendous size (6’7), which allows him to look over the defense and make proper reads. But there’s more to it than just passing. Ball’s fluidity off the dribble is a great indicator of just how good he can become, as his basketball IQ increases and he gets more experience.

Ball did not shoot well in Australia, hitting just 37.5 percent of his shots, including 25 percent from long-range. While those numbers do not inject a lot of confidence in his shot-making ability, context matters, such as the fact that he took a lot of deep shots and often got overzealous as any 18-year-old tend to be. He was also tasked with being the team’s primary shot-taker, racking up 16.7 attempts per game.

That’s a lot to ask of someone his age, and given the 12-game sample size, it’s fair if NBA teams decide to ignore his scoring efficiency.

Should he land in Golden State, he would add an exciting pass-first component which would free up Curry more to play off the ball – always a scary thought – while allowing Thompson, Wiggins, and Green to move up a position in what could be one of the league’s most fast-paced offenses.

Finally, there’s Anthony Edwards from Georgia.

Edwards, hands-down, has the biggest potential of anyone in this draft class. Not only is he built like a tank at 6’5 and 225 pounds, but he’s also one of the most athletic players in the draft. The combination of strength and athleticism alone is already one that would make most GM’s widen their eyes, but when you factor in both his scoring and defensive upside, it’d be impossible to blame anyone for swinging on him at #1.

Edwards netted 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists on the year. Those numbers could have been far better had Edwards not settled as much as he did on pull-up jumpers and instead gone straight to the basket.

That’s where the intrigue enters. Edwards reached the above stat line by taking a bunch of inefficient shots, while also mentally checking out at times. What could he possibly achieve if a team taught him to take the right shots and get him motivated for every game?

Edwards, assuming he dedicates himself on that end, could also be one of the most influential defenders in the draft. His frame, size, speed and leaping ability could, if applied correctly, become a menace to opposing ball-handlers, and he could even slide up on bigger players and outwork them with his quick feet.

Whether Golden State is the right landing spot for someone who displayed a somewhat low basketball IQ is a fair question. But on the flipside, if there’s a team out there that would instantly demand more of him, it’s the Warriors.

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The Warriors have their work cut out for them, as they get nearer the draft. There are safe choices, high-upside gambles, international flavor and everything in-between. For the Golden State it comes down to what they feel fits them best, and whether or not they’re willing to draft for tomorrow instead of today.