What is Golden State’s best-case scenario in upcoming NBA draft?
The NBA draft is Wednesday. Yes, Wednesday. Can you believe it?
And before the craziness gets underway, sports columnist Dieter Kurtenbach and War r iors beat writer Wes G oldber g d iscussed what the best- case scenario is for Golden State on draft day.
iieter Kurtenbach: We’ve been doing this for what,
NBA draft: Wednesday, 5 p.m.,
seven- and- a- half years now? It feels like it’s been sevenand- a- half years.
Wes ooldberg: It’s literally been since last December that I’ve been writing about this draft when it was pretty clear that the Warriors would be picking at the top of it. The amount of times that I’ve heard, “It’s not a strong
draft.” I get it. I’m aware. I may be more aware than anybody else other than the Warriors.
But I am so ready. DK: So the question today gets down to brass tacks. What is the bestc a se scena r io for the Warriors on draft day?
I’m happy to set a tone here: I think the Warriors would be well- served to get A nthony Edwa rds (wing, Georgia) with the No. 2 overall pick.
But the best- case scenario for the Warriors is that Edwards goes No. 1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
T hat put s the Warriors in the driver’s seat to wheel and deal the No. 2 pick because there are teams that are clearly in on James Wiseman and there are a lot of teams that are interested in LaMelo Ball.
So ... here’s where it starts to get a bit crazy. Stick with me here, Wes.
If Edwards goes No. 1, then the Warriors trade pick No. 2 to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for pick No. 3 and Miles Bridges.
Jordan Poole or some other young player might have to go to Charlotte, but Charlotte gets Wiseman.
T he War r ior s h ave done a wonder f ul job with their smoke screens. They’re pushing a narrative that they’re definitely going to take Wiseman. You and I think they’re not going to do that.
But they can fool Charlotte into giv ing them Bridges to move up one spot.
So now the Warriors are at No. 3. They could take Ball, right?
No. No. No. No. They trade that pick to the Detroit Pistons for the No. 7 overall pick, a future first-rounder with a mess of protections, and Tony Snell.
Then, with the No. 7 overall pick, they take Tyrese Haliburton ( point forward, Iowa State) or Devin Vassell (wing, Florida State).
T hat would , in my opinion, be the best- case scenar io for the Warriors: The No. 2 overall pick and either Poole or Kevon Looney turns into Bridges, Snell, a super
duper protec ted f irstround pick, and either Haliburton or Vassell.
WG: Did Bob Myers ask for Luke Kennard instead of Snell and get denied?
DK: Yes, that was his first ask. Snell’s contract is very much expiring by the way, and they’d have to use the (Andre Iguodala) traded player exception for that, but this is a guy who shot 40% from beyond the arc last year. I think he can be a helpful bench piece for the squad, much-needed shooting...
WG: ... and a valuable trade piece by the trade deadline. I like it. Now you have contracts to stack up — Snell, Andrew Wiggins — to get you a superstar.
Plus, you get Vassell, who is No. 2 on my personal big board.
DK: I know you like Ha l ibu r t on , t o o. You talked me into him.
The Warriors need to get wings, wings, wings, and this scenario brings in three.
WG: I would almost prefer for them to stick it out at No. 3, though. Take Bridges and then just go ahead and take their guy.
But here’s an idea: Let’s say that Edwards or Wiseman go No. 1 — Charlotte leaps up to take him.
Then Ball is there at No. 2, and here’s another report that we’ve heard: Oklahoma City desperately wants to move up to take Ball. They think he’s the g uy they can build around.
Is Shai Gilgeous- A lexander, another firstrounder, and pick No. 25 enough to move to No. 2?
DK: Very much so. (Gilgeous- Alexander) might not be the most log ical fit. He’s not a wing, per se, but I think he’s a Shaun Livingston point guard, which the Warr ior s obv iou sly love d and would certainly like hav in g a nchor in g the second unit and playing alongside the top lineup, maybe t o close some games.
WG: I love Gilgeous-Alexander. The one thing I kept hearing from the War r iors is that they want this No. 2 pick to be someone who can make multiple All- Star Games. Gilgeous-Alexander will make multiple All- Star Games. He has that kind of potential.
DK: It’s enticing, and
I know that the Thunder have f ir s t - rou nders to burn because they took all of the Clippers’. I would much rather have Gilgeous-Alexander than the No. 2 overall pick. He’s a proven commodity who has a ton of room to grow. I’m not personally convinced that Ball is going to be a stud in this league.
WG: Well, the Thunder love long, athletic guys who can’t really shoot a nd Alex a nder m i g ht shoot a little too well for their tastes.
DK: Come on now.
WG: L ook, I think there are serious questions about whether or not you can build an offense around GilgeousAlexander. I don’t know if you could be your alpha. I don’t know that he’s r unning your offense. The belief is that LaMelo can. The Thunder have to make that call.
T he War r iors, have Steph Curr y and Draymond Green running your offense. They don’t need Shai. You can have him play a n elevated I g uo d a la - t y p e , de fensively. He’s everywhere. He jumps in pa ssing lanes. He thrives in transition. He has a great little mid- range game. He’s Liv ingston on offense with a better outside jumper and an Iguodala- ty pe potential defensively.
DK: Stop it. I’m getting all hot and bothered over here.
This is tantalizing. I thought my best- case scenario was good, but this is better. And it’s realistic.
WG: A nd maybe you save the trade exception for another deal and you f lip Looney over to Oklahoma City.
DK: Yeah, and then you go and get a Kelly Olynyk from the Heat with it.
WG: I think you could realistically get No. 25 f rom OKC and maybe another protected firstrounder.
DK: I would rather have Gilgeous-Alexander than any player in this draft, with the possible exception of Edwards, and you’re throwing in f irst- round pick s that you can package? Yeah. I’m in.