Is Golden State targeting Mitchell at No. 7 in draft?
Thanks as always to everyone who sent in questions for the mailbag. You can submit questions for future mailbags by email (wgoldberg@bayareanewsgroup.com) or on Twitter (@wcgoldberg). Let’s jump right in.
Q: ADAM STANCO RECENTLY WAS ON A PODCAST WITH CHAD FORD AND SAID HE TOOK NOTICE THAT THE WARRIORS STAFF WAS ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH DAVION MITCHELL. DO YOU THINK THIS IS TRUE OR HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING SIMILAR FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE ORGANIZATION? — JAKOB
There are conflicting reports about how much the Warriors like Baylor’s Davion
Mitchell, but what I can tell you is that if he’s on the board at No. 7 — as expected — Golden State will consider him. Many in the front office like Mitchell — who is listed as the seventh-best prospect by ESPN, The Ringer and The Athletic. He projects as a high-level ball-handler and defender with three-level scoring potential.
As for how this decision will be made, general manager Bob Myers empowers others in the front office to put together their own draft boards and considers those when building his own. Some in the front office will be higher on Mitchell because of his basketball feel and collegiate production, others will dock him for his lack of size (6-foot-1 with shoes, 6-4 wingspan)
and presumed upside. Ultimately, it will be Myers’ call. But he and the rest of the front office still have much work to do before the July 29 draft.
Q: I’D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE COMPARISON OF MITCHELL AND JAMES BOUKNIGHT REGARDING THE WARRIORS SYSTEM FIT — MEHRDAD
An explosive athlete and smooth ball-handler with good length, Bouknight projects as an instant go-to-thebasket scorer in the NBA. He can play above the rim, finish efficiently and should be able to navigate the pick-and-roll with ease. At 6-5 with a 6-8 wingspan, he has the size to develop into a plus defender, although his track record at that end isn’t strong. Also, he shot just 32% from 3-point range over his career and there are concerns about his playmaking overall since he had more turnovers than assists in college. Bouknight would give Golden State, which finished the season with the 20th-ranked offense, some scoring juice. And if the Warriors plan to incorporate more pick-and-roll next season, Bouknight would be a logical addition, especially if he can run it with James Wiseman off the bench.
Meanwhile, Mitchell, the Naismith and Big 12 defensive player of the year, is perhaps the best on-ball defender in the draft who took a leap offensively
during Baylor’s championship season. He’s an elite competitor, has a tremendous first step and plays with speed in the open floor. He’s a highIQ player who makes the right decision more often than not and went from shooting 31% for his career to 45% as a junior. However, because of his relative lack of size and ability to play above the rim, there are questions about his upside and whether he can continue to produce at a high level against NBA bodies. If the Warriors are sold on his feel, IQ and competitiveness, Mitchell would theoretically be able run the second-unit offense while also playing alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in smaller lineups.
Personally, I think Mitchell is the better pick. His skillset as an elite on-ball defender at the point guard position and proven ability to run an offense is more novel. Yes, Bouknight’s scoring potential is enticing, but the Warriors are in win-now mode and could find a similar player in free agency — such as Lou Williams — if they feel they need to add that sort of expertise.
Q: JOSH GIDDEY CAN PLAY WITH STEPH OR POOLE. HE COULD BE THE NEXT POOR MAN LUKA DONCIC OR A GORDON HAYWARD. AND UNLIKE BOUKNIGHT, HE FITS KERR’S MOTION OFFENSE. CAN WE MAKE A SERIOUS ARGUMENT FOR GOLDEN STATE TO DRAFT GIDDEY? — @ DXVID_LTD
I don’t love the Doncic or Hayward comparisons, since
Giddey isn’t nearly that level of a scorer. Rather, might I throw out another comp? LaMelo Ball. The Warriors, of course, took Wiseman over Ball last year. If there’s any regret about not adding a tall playmaker with natural passing instincts, Golden State can make up for that now.
At 6-8, Giddey is even taller than the 6-6 Ball. Like Ball, Giddey packed the box score in the NBL, averaging 11.4 points, 7.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds. He has an elite feel for the game, uses angles well and can finish near the basket. Although he struggled with man-to-man defense and shot just 31.% from 3-point range, those are the same concerns Ball overcame in Charlotte on his way to winning Rookie of the Year. Giddey would instantly add some playmaking flash to Golden State’s offense, can play with pace and theoretically switch in a teamdefense scheme.
My concern is if Giddey can contribute while playing more off the ball than he did last year in the NBL. Remember, Ball in Charlotte was trusted to run the offense. That would never have been the case in Golden State, where Curry and Draymond Green are entrenched as the offense’s key facilitators.
Q: WHO DO YOU THINK HAS THE BEST SNEAKER GAME ON THE TEAM? — @NBASCOTTS
Since I wasn’t in the locker room this last season, it’s hard to speak to some of the team’s newcomers, but I’ll say that Eric Paschall has a strong rotation of Jordans.