WHAT WILL WARRIORS DO WITH NO. 2 PICK?
There’s been a whole lot of commotion and not a lot of clarity regarding the Golden State Warriors’ plans for the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Reports indicate that the team is “blown away by,” “impressed with” or “considering” at least five different prospects; a rash of rumored trade possibilities have also emerged — some of which are really, really out there.
If you’re just now parachuting into NBA Draft coverage, here’s the skinny: This class has a relatively weak “big three” that consists of point guard LaMelo Ball (Australia’s National Basketball League), wing Anthony Edwards (University of Georgia) and center James Wiseman (University Memphis). Many expect Ball, Edwards and Wiseman to be the first three prospects off the board. The Warriors are complicating matters and apparently eyeing trades to snag a veteran player who can help them win now.
To make sense of all the moving pieces, we’ve put together a guide of what we think are the five likeliest scenarios for Golden State on Wednesday night. This guide is based on what’s been reported, rather than relying solely on the multitude of mock drafts floating around the internet.
Scenario 1: The Warriors stay at pick No. 2 and take James Wiseman
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman is reporting that “it sounds like Golden State would take Wiseman over Edwards,” who’s largely expected to be the first overall pick.
Wiseman would fill a need at center, but the Warriors have typically eschewed using a traditional center during crunchtime, and Wiseman comes with his own set of issues. Namely: The big man played in just three games at Memphis before a spat with the NCAA over eligibility led to his premature departure. Teams are working with a very small sample size when it comes to evaluating Wiseman, who at least was very good in the three games he played.
The Warriors have a similar player in Marquese Chriss, but Wiseman undoubtedly has the higher ceiling. There was some chatter that Wiseman could actually be taken first overall by the Timberwolves, but that now sounds less and less likely.
Scenario 2: The Warriors trade down into the No. 4 to No. 8 range, acquire a starting center and then take one of Deni Avdija, Tyrese Haliburton or Obi Toppin
The Warriors were reportedly blown away by the Israeli
Avdija, while Haliburton, a sixfoot-five point guard from Iowa State who has drawn Shaun Livingston comparisons, has been a late riser in the draft process.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that the Chicago Bulls (pick No. 4), Detroit Pistons (No. 7) and New York Knicks (No. 8) all have interest in moving up to pick No. 2, and are teams to watch on Wednesday.
If the Warriors want to land a starting center via trade and then take a guard or wing, they could ask the Bulls for Wendell
Carter Jr. or the New York Knicks for Mitchell Robinson. The Pistons do not have a starting-caliber frontcourt piece that would fit under the Warriors’ salary cap, unless the Dubs wanted to swap Andrew Wiggins for Blake Griffin.
Scenario 3: The Warriors stay at pick No. 2 and take Anthony Edwards
Citing league sources, The Chronicle’s Connor Letourneau has reported that the Warriors “would likely take Edwards at No. 2” should the Minnesota Timberwolves pass on him at pick No. 1 and instead take Wiseman.
Edwards, an athletic 19-year-old wing, reportedly had a bumpy predraft workout in which he looked “lazy” and “out of focus” — a development that will do nothing to quiet the concerns many had about his shot selection and perceived lack of intensity at Georgia.
However, Letourneau reports that “the Warriors are believed to view Edwards as someone who can blossom into a face of a franchise and multitime All-Star if put in the right situation,” and that the team thinks Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green could provide adequate mentorship.
Scenario 4: The Warriors trade all the way down to No. 10 or lower for a high-impact player
By trading this far back, the Warriors are probably nabbing a very good player from their respective trade partner.
One such possibility is the Warriors sending No. 2 for pick No. 15, with the Orlando Magic sending back forward Aaron Gordon.
According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Magic want to package Gordon and the 15th overall pick to move up into the lottery. Gordon, a talented 25-yearold combo forward, is on a contract that would be a bit too expensive for the team’s trade exception, but there are ways to potentially make the finances work.
Other high-impact players on teams who pick later in the first round: San Antonio Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge (the Spurs have the No. 11 pick), Boston Celtics combo guard Marcus Smart (the Celtics have the No. 14 pick), and Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (the Blazers have the No. 16 pick).
Scenario 5: The Warriors stay at pick No. 2 and take LaMelo Ball
No one is exactly sure how the ball-dominant and defensively challenged Ball would fit with the Warriors, beyond potentially being trade bait if the Warriors were to put together a package for a certain reigning MVP.
Furthermore, Ball would bring the circus that is his father LaVar Ball, who once proclaimed his eldest son Lonzo was better than Steph Curry, and said as recently as September that LaMelo would be a “bad fit” with the Warriors.