Ranking the Golden State Warriors’ Best Drafts of the Past Decade
By John Kim
No. 5: 2008/2010 Draft
Apr 14, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Anthony Randolph (15) takes a free throw during the second half against the Portland Trailblazers at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 118-109. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
These two picks, though not the worst picks of the decade, were not great ones in and of themselves: Ekpe Udoh was drafted in 2010 with the sixth overall pick, and Anthony Randolph was drafted in 2008 with the 14th overall pick. With high expectations placed on both of them, their contributions to the Warriors were negligent at best.
Fortunately, both players were traded after two years of disappointment for two foundational pieces of the current Warriors team.
In 2010, Randolph was packaged in a trade to the New York Knicks for David Lee. In 2012, Udoh was part of a trade that sent him to the Milwaukee Bucks for Andrew Bogut. Udoh and Randolph, though not directly responsible for the Warriors’ current success, were pieces that helped surround young talent with two great teammates.
Honorable mentions of Warrior draftees include Mike Dunleavy and Mickael Pietrus.