Entering the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors have the second overall pick. After finishing 15-50 and last in the Western Conference, the Warriors are looking to re-tool in the draft. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are returning from injuries to a team that looks much different from their 2019 NBA Finals roster. Without Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and others, the Splash Brothers are now flanked by Andrew Wiggins, the future number two overall pick, and returning forward Draymond Green. In addition to the second pick, Golden State has the 48th pick, from Dallas, and the 51st pick from Utah.
With Curry and Thompson out the majority of the 2019-2020 season, the Warriors’ young guards received valuable playing time that will be important for the Warriors with little cap space to fill out their bench. Damion Lee, Ky Bowman, and Jordan Poole round out the backup guards for Golden State which is a position of strength in the 2020 draft class. Behind Wiggins and Green, the Warriors lack depth at the forward and center positions. Marquese Chriss showed promise in limited experience last season and Eric Paschall will play a key role in 2020-2021. With a history of lacking a true starting center, Golden State may look to focus on that position this offseason.
2019 Warriors Draft Picks
28th overall – Jordan Poole
Poole stepped into a bigger role than expected last season after the season-ending injury to Curry. Poole averaged 8.8 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game while sharing guard minutes with Bowman and Lee. Although Curry and Thompson will get the majority of guard touches this season, look for Poole to remain in a lead role off the bench.
39th overall – Alen Smailagic
Smailagic was drafted first to the G-league Warriors before being drafted to the NBA Warriors in the 2019 draft. In a very limited role last season, Smailagic averaged 4.2 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game, and 0.9 assists per game after being called up halfway through the season. The 20-year-old prospect has played professional basketball since his time in Serbia playing in the Serbia U19 League. Smailagic averaged 21.9 points while in Serbia which led to him being drafted twice by the Golden State Warriors.
41st overall – Eric Paschall
The last player drafted by the Warriors in 2019, Pascall made the biggest impact out of his rookie class. Paschall averaged 14 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game. With Green in and out of the starting lineup all season, Paschall dominated in the starting power forward role. Although Green will likely return to the starting power forward role, a lineup with Paschall and Green at the four and five could eventually remind Warriors fans of the small ball lineups employed by Steve Kerr at the beginning of their dynasty run.
2020 Offseason Needs
1. Center
The Warriors’ best center is Chriss. While the journeyman did well for the Warriors last season, they need a dominant big man to pair with two of the best shooters in NBA history. After the departure of Andrew Bogut, Golden State has not had a rim-running defender to patrol the paint, something that hurt them against the Raptors in the 2019 NBA Finals. If not through the draft, the Warriors will look to upgrade this position in free agency for sure.
2. Perimeter players
Outside of Wiggins, the Warriors do not have another shot-creating, good defender on the perimeter. With the offensive system run in Golden State, ball movement and cutting are needed from the wings. Golden State misses Iguodala and needs someone else on the perimeter to replace the incredible production from Durant. The Warriors will likely aim for a Harrison Barnes type replacement to replicate the death lineup from 2015 before Durant came to town.
3. Depth
Part of the Warriors’ depth in 2020 will come from developing their role players from last season. Golden State needs its three backup guards to produce and Paschall and Chriss have to continue to grow in the system. Add three more draft picks to the mix and Kerr will be working with a young lineup around their three core veterans. Although depth will likely not be achieved through free agency, the development of current players and three key draft picks will provide a lot of context for the Warriors’ success in 2020-21.
2020 NBA Draft Prospect Names to Know
1. LaMelo Ball – Guard, Illawarra Hawks
Ball is rated as the most talented prospect in the draft. The 6-foot-7 guard has played professionally in Lithuania and Australia in the NBL. With incredible height for the guard position, Ball has the scoring, passing, and rebounding talent to be a nightly triple-double candidate in the NBA. Although there are questions about his maturity and his personality, no one can question his shot creation and passing ability. With one of the greatest shooting guards ever in Golden State, there would be no better place for Ball to learn and emerge as a star alongside Curry.
2. James Wiseman – Center, Memphis
The Warriors need a center. Wiseman is the best center prospect in the draft. Although he only played a few games at Memphis, Wiseman dominated and looked impressive against college competition. Wiseman is 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and has the ability to dominate on the offensive and defensive end. There are questions about the fit for Wiseman in the Warriors offense, but a Bogut type role could benefit Wiseman in an ever-changing NBA.
3. Deni Avdija – Forward, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israeli BSL)
With the immediate need for depth at the forward position, Avdija would be an interesting prospect. The 19-year-old international prospect would be the perfect cutting, shot-creating forward to slide into the forward role for Golden State. At 6-foot-8, Avdija provides the size to guard the forward position while boosting the speed and shot creation to hold a productive role off the bench immediately for the Warriors.
Warriors Draft Prediction
There has been a lot of discussion about the possibility of the Warriors trading out of the 2nd pick to add assets. Unless the Warriors can add a young talented asset like Wendell Carter Jr. from the Bulls or Miles Bridges from the Hornets, it is doubtful that Golden State will sacrifice their ability to essentially choose the prospect of their liking. Given the Warriors’ affection for small-ball lineups and positionless basketball, a selection outside of Wiseman and fellow big man Obi Toppin is not outside the realm of possibility. Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Avdija are the most likely selections, assuming Golden State stays at number two.
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