Warriors have options: 2 picks in second round
Much has been written about the Warriors’ possibilities with the No. 2 pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, and for good reason: It represents a key opportunity for Golden State to return to contention this season while building for the future.
But the Warriors also have two secondround picks ( Nos. 48 and 51), which could have value if used properly. Within the past 19 years, Golden State has taken such highlevel contributors in the second round as Gilbert Arenas ( No. 31, 2001), Monta Ellis ( No. 40, 2005) and Draymond Green ( No. 35, 2012).
Though it’s unclear what the Warriors will do with their two secondround picks, they have plenty of options. During a conference call with reporters last week, general manager Bob Myers said, “Maybe we don’t draft two guys in the second round. Maybe we stash one ( overseas) or sign one to a twoway ( contract). We haven’t figured that out.”
Below is a breakdown of the routes Myers
could take in the second round:
Keeping both secondround picks
The case for it: Given that the Warriors have no guarantees that fans will be allowed back in Chase Center this season, they need to be costconscious. Golden State majority owner Joe Lacob told The Chronicle recently that 80% of the franchise’s revenue comes at the gate. Though Lacob is adamant that he’ll still spend big to maximize what’s left of his core’s prime, he might want to save some money on the back end of the roster.
A player’s minimum salary is determined by how long he has been in the NBA. Teams have no limit to how many free agents they can sign to minimum deals, but someone who has been in the league a handful of years will earn more than twice as much as the rookie minimum of $ 898,310.
It could behoove the Warriors to round out their 15man roster with two rookie second rounders on minimum contracts. Though Golden State figures to be in the luxury tax regardless, it might not want to spend more than necessary on the 14th and 15th men — spots that tend to be more cheerleader than oncourt contributor, anyway.
There is also the fact that, in a draft with so much fluidity, the Warriors should have prospects available at Nos. 48 and 51 whom they believe can be legitimate NBA players. Proven college players who still might be on the board at Nos. 48 and 51 include Virginia power forward Mamadi Diakite, Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston, Louisville small forward Jordan Nwora and Washington State small forward C. J. Elleby.
The case against it: The Warriors have at least 10 players expected to be on the 202021 roster, which leaves just five open spots. Golden State could use one on its upcoming lottery pick, one on whomever it acquires with its traded player exception and one on whomever it signs to the midlevel exception.
Even if the Warriors decide not to sign any free agents to minimum contracts, they might have only two spots up for grabs. That’s tricky, especially because there are three players from last season’s team on nonguaranteed deals — Ky Bowman, Juan Toscano Anderson and Mychal Mulder — who probably at least deserve a shot at making the 202021 roster.
Though using the 14th and 15th spots on rookie second rounders makes financial sense, it perhaps isn’t realistic from a competitive standpoint. Steve Kerr has a penchant for emptying his bench during the regular season. Odds are that the Warriors will fill those slots with the best possible players, not unheralded rookies.
Packaging both picks to move up in the second round
The case for it: With the Warriors facing a numbers crunch, they probably don’t need to keep both secondround picks. One intriguing option is to try trading both for an early secondround selection from a team looking to stockpile assets. Though hidden gems are occasionally unearthed late in the second round, the early stages of the second round are known to be much more fruitful.
This is where teams often can land firstround talents, but aren’t beholden to the league’s rookie salary scale. Last year, confident that No. 41 pick Eric Paschall would be a helpful rotation player, the Warriors signed him to a threeyear, minimum contract — now a bargain for someone fresh off an AllRookie firstteam selection.
Though this draft is devoid of a generational prospect such as LeBron James or Zion Williamson, it is loaded with players capable of carving out long NBA careers. Such prospects who could be available early in the second round include Colorado small forward Tyler Bey, Arkansas shooting guard Isaiah Joe and Arizona point guard Nico Mannion.
The case against it: The Warriors might not have room on the 15man roster for a single secondround pick, and they probably wouldn’t want to trade up in the draft just to select someone who could wind up on a twoway contract. There is also the fact that, given how little separation this draft has between players talentwise, Golden State could like players available at Nos. 48 and 51 as much as anyone it could get in the early second round.
Using at least one secondround pick on a draftandstash prospect
The case for it: The Warriors might like an international prospect enough to draft him in the second round in hopes of bringing him stateside after he spends another year or two developing overseas. This would ensure that Golden State has the rights to that player, and that it wouldn’t have to pay him until he joins the NBA team.
Even if the prospect in question doesn’t suit up for the Warriors, he could have value as a trade asset if he puts up impressive numbers overseas. Some players who fit this bill are Israeli point guard Yam Madar, French shooting guard Abdoulaye N’Doye, Cameroon ian Italian small forward Paul Eboua, Montenegrin center Marko Simonovic and Serbian power forward Borisa Simanic.
The case against it: This international draft class isn’t as deep as in past years, and the Warriors might be better off using whichever secondround picks they keep on college players. Golden State is in talent acquisition mode. If the best players available are from the U.S ., it should take a hard look at them.
Using at least one secondround pick on a twoway contract
The case for it: Given that the Warriors have benefited greatly from twoway contracts since the league introduced them in the 201718 season, they should be ecstatic that the NBA is removing twoway players’ 45day limit with the big club this season.
Twoway players can play in as many as 50 of a possible 72 games at the top level, and their travel and practice days with the NBA team won’t be counted as active days. Such changes could make a twoway contract more palatable to prospects who slide to the second round.
With such little room on their 15man roster, the Warriors might consider drafting a longterm project in the late second round who could sign a twoway contract, earn meaningful minutes in the G League, and learn from Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson during stints with Golden State.
Some possibilities should the Warriors go that route include Kenyon Martin Jr. and Josh Hall — both of whom last played in prep school, but are eligible for the draft — as well as reigning Junior College Player of the Year Jay Scrubb.
The case against it: There is a chance that Golden State would prefer to use its twoway contracts on Bowman, Toscano Anderson or Mulder. All three of those flashed their NBA potential with the Warriors last season, but they might have a tough time cracking Golden State’s 15man roster.
Even if the Warriors don’t sign any of those three to twoway contracts, they could eye players with those deals who are more proven than what Golden State is going to find in the late second round. A coronavirus outbreak, after all, could force Kerr to play his 14th or 15th men meaningful minutes.
Bottom line
The odds of the Warriors keeping both secondround picks are slim, at best. If it holds onto at least one of the selections, Golden State will strongly consider players it can stash overseas. The new two way contract rules also give the Warriors flexibility should they draft someone they’re not confident will make the 15man roster.