The latest NBA draft for the Warriors failed to make the grade … and it’s not even close
There is a reality where the future of the Warriors does not depend on the number 11 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Sure, they can trade picks for a star.
But that’s not what we’re talking about.
That they can go back and redo their previous lottery picks.
A number of smart picks in the early 2010s formed the foundation of a dynasty, bringing in Steph Curry (seventh overall, 2009), Klay Thompson (11th, 2011) and Draymond Green (35th, 2012) among other key contributors.
But the well has run dry, along with any hopes of carrying out owner Joe Lacob’s bold “two-time” plan. That hope disappeared when the franchise used its two highest picks this millennium on James Wiseman (second overall, 2020) and Jonathan Kuminga (seventh, 2021).
Depending on the schedule, how many years behind were the Warriors.
There have been 44 players taken since Green who have gone on to earn All-Star selections, but none of the 21 prospects drafted by Golden State.
The good thing is that this year’s draft is considered to be very deep which is unlikely to go wrong with the selection of 11. The Warriors will have a different man running the draft room since the last time they held the lottery.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. has proven adept at identifying contributors late in the draft since taking over as general manager from Bob Myers weeks before the 2022 draft.
But this will be Dunleavy’s first lottery pick.
“We’re just going to write who we think is going to be the best player for us going forward,” Dunleavy said last month. “That’s what we’ve always done, especially the last few years we’ve been good at it whether it’s the first round or the second round, whatever.
“We are a little higher this year, but we will take the same approach.”
A report card on the Warriors’ recent history in the NBA draft, dating back to 2020:
For A
Nothing
The crux of the Warriors’ problems: While they were able to get role players in the first round and value them deeply in the draft, they were deprived of top talent.
Player selections taken after previous Warriors lottery picks: Tyrese Haliburton, Deni Avdija, Tyrese Maxey, Franz Wagner, Alperen Sengun, Trey Murphy III.
You get the picture.
For B
Moses Moody – 14th overall, 2021
Gu Santos – 55th overall, 2022
Brandin Podziemski – 19th general, 2023
All three players will be part of the Warriors’ transformation for years to come.
Santos looks set to be the steal of the 2022 draft – credit to the Warriors’ international scouting efforts and the development of their players. The Brazilian played a full season in the G League before making his NBA debut and has seen the court sparingly over the past two seasons but broke out big this year, starting 26 of the Warriors’ last 32 games while averaging 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and four assists per game.
Moody, the Warriors’ final lottery pick, isn’t a superstar but developed into a solid 3-and-D player before tearing a ligament in his left knee in March.
It would be hard to do better than No. 19 than Podziemski, who played all 82 games last season and looks set to join Moody and Santos on a contract extension this summer.
UC
Ryan Rollins – 44th overall, 2022
Quinten Post – 52nd overall, 2024
Is it Richard – 56th overall, 2025
The jury is still out on Richard, who looked much better than the late second-round pick before hitting a wall late in his rookie season. Similarly, the Post contributed more than expected from the seventh to last election last year.
Rollins is a big win – for the Bucks.
The small guard didn’t get much of a chance with Golden State, appearing in just 12 games as a starter before being traded for Chris Paul. But three years and two teams later, Rollins averaged 17.3 points and 5.6 assists as Milwaukee’s starting point guard.
For D
Nico Mannion – 48th overall, 2020
Jonathan Kuminga – 7th overall, 2021
Trayce Jackson-Davis – 57th overall, 2023
According to assistant GM Larry Harris, “If I could tell you that Joe [Lacob] you love the frame, that would be an understatement. “
By all accounts, the Warriors owner liked Kuminga and viewed the immature but exciting youngster as his ticket to the post-Curry era. In one of the saddest stories of Lacob’s high-profile tenure, it wasn’t to be.
Coach Steve Kerr and Kuminga have never seen eye to eye in court, the contentious contract negotiations were played out in the public eye and the Warriors ended up selling him for pennies on the dollar when it became clear that the situation was irreparable.
Kuminga could still be a top NBA player — he’s only 23 and in better shape with the Hawks — but it wasn’t going to happen in Golden State.
F
James Wiseman – 2nd overall, 2020
Justinian Jesus – 51st overall, 2020
Patrick Baldwin – 28th overall, 2022
Wiseman has some competition among the Warriors’ big players — including their current GM, taken No. 3 overall in 2002 — but there’s no doubt that the injury-riddled and inactive big man was their worst pick of the season.
A free agent since being released in December by the Pacers – his third NBA team – Wiseman has played just 152 games in the five seasons since Golden State made him the highest draft pick since Joe Smith in 1995.
The Hornets took LaMelo Ball with the next pick, and Haliburton went twelfth, leaving the Warriors and their fans wondering: What if?
Hey, at least they didn’t trade Luka Doncic for Marvin Bagley.
