Warriors want a wing at No. 2, but the best should be off the board

The Golden State Warriors want a wing in the 2020 NBA Draft, but Anthony Edwards, the best wing in the draft, will likely go No. 1.

There’s no denying both insiders and fans think the Golden State Warriors will trade their 2020 first-round pick. The No. 2 overall selection could produce a top prospect, but it may be more valuable in the trade market for Golden State.

The Warriors may be able to choose from Joel Embiid, Bradley Beal, Jrue Holiday and others that may be obtainable on the market.

However, all those three players would both force the team to trade former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins and potentially force them to part ways with the Minnesota Timberwolves top-three protected 2021 first-round pick.

It may just not be worth it.

So, assuming they then keep the pick, who do they want? Well, the obvious need is for a center, and with James Wiseman as a top prospect, he should certainly get some talk within the organization.

But, that’s not the area they’re reportedly aiming for with their second-overall pick.

“Sources from multiple front offices believe Golden State’s preference is to draft a wing. That could mean Edwards, who has size. But Edwards is a shaky decision-maker at this stage of his career (and he’s off our board anyway). Avdija makes logical sense as a highly experienced player who projects as a versatile 6-foot-9 forward with playmaking skills. Ideally, the Warriors would be able to trade down for him since two bigger-name prospects are still on the board,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor writes.

O’Connor makes both a report and a logical claim here. he notes the Warriors will want a win. Deni  Avdija will be the second-best wing on most team’s draft boards. The best wing, Anthony Edwards, whose fit O’Connor notes is questionable anyway, should be off the board.

Avdija isn’t a top-tier prospect. He’s not in the LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman-type field. He may even be sought after as heavily as players like Obi Toppin and Onyeka Okongwu. If that’s the case, the Warriors would, as O’Connor mentioned, ideally trade down.

The options for Golden State will be plentiful, that is, if they keep the pick till the draft, an event slated for late November after originally being rescheduled for late October.