The Golden State Warriors could potentially draft another dominant big with their first-round pick, and they may be able to find one in Brandon Clarke.
Brandon Clarke just announced himself on the national stage. The Gonzaga forward may have bought himself a one-way ticket to play with the Golden State Warriors after a 36-point performance against Baylor University.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs looked dominant in their first-round matchup. However, they were facing sixteen-seed Fairleigh Dickinson. Against a tougher nine-seeded Baylor, it was Clarke that stepped up in a big way.
Clarke shot a game-high 18 shots. Of those 18, he converted 15, another game high. He finished with 36 points which were more than double any other player in the game. He tacked on eight rebounds and three assists as well.
In his third season at Gonzaga, Clarke has averaged 16.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.0 shots per game. He’s almost shooting an unprecedented 70% from the field as well, making him a borderline first-round pick.
Per NBADraft.net, Clarke is projected to be the No. 32 overall pick, going to the Pheonix Suns. CBS Sports recent mock draft has Clarke as the 27th overall selection, mentioning his ability to block shots, guard the perimeter and be a modern-day small-ball big man.
Both of these spots in the 2019 NBA Draft put Golden State right in the mix. The Dubs will likely have the No. 28 pick in the draft and, per any unexpected change of events, will actually use the pick for just second time in the last three years.
The Golden State Warriors could potentially draft another dominant big with their first-round pick, and they may be able to find one in Brandon Clarke.
The 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward/center combo could have a nice role on the Warriors roster. He could be the Draymond Green replacement if the Dubs failed to give Green the max contract he’ll likely seek following the end of next season.
If the Dubs drafted Clarke, it’d be their fourth rookie big man added to their roster over the course of the last four seasons. That said, the need for Clarke may not be there given they’ll be returning Damian Jones next season.
Clarke would really make himself a threat if he could add a three-point jumper to his repertoire. Making just four all season, that’ll be the next step in Clarke’s game and could’ve made him a lottery pick had he developed it throughout the season.
Either way, the Dubs should’ve noticed Clarke after such a dominant effort against Baylor. For fans, there should be no complaints if Clarke is the Warriors’ draftee this July.