The NBA Draft is a few months away. Let’s look at how Anthony Edwards could carve out a role with the Golden State Warriors.
Get ready Golden State Warriors‘ fans – the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery is only a few days away and soon we will discover where the Dubs will select in the order. Rumor has it that if they land the No. 1 overall pick – Anthony Edwards is high on their wishlist.
According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle (Subscription required), the franchise is leaning towards taking the young bulldog out of Georgia. He states that if they win the lottery, the Dubs will likely take Edwards with the top pick.
This might come as a surprise to those that are more inclined to take a center such as James Wiseman or Onyeka Okongwu. The Warriors already have an all-time great duo in the backcourt – why do they need another guard?
Well, Edwards is much more than just a guard. He stands at 6’5″ and weighs nearly 230 pounds – already above league average for his position. His 6’9″ wingspan gives him inspector gadget style extendo-arms that will help him become an elite perimeter defender with proper development.
This adds an interesting wrinkle to the Warriors as a one-two punch of Klay Thompson and Edwards would make their backcourt impenetrable. It would be difficult for opponents to single out Stephen Curry when the Dubs have such a strong supporting cast there to cover him up.
Offensively, Edwards will likely never be a splash brother. Though he has solid mechanics, he is far from being a consistent deep shooter and will be much better off playing to his strengths as a slasher – where he is one of the best prospects at attacking the rim.
Edwards has high-level athleticism and a great motor. Allowing him to cut off of Curry and Thompson will make him a threat at all-times. Furthermore, he would eat in transition if the Warriors continue to play their fast-paced style of ball.
The future is bright for Edwards and playing under the wing of Curry/Thompson would benefit him. Accepting a smaller role before sprouting into the face of the franchise sounds like a great path for Edwards.