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Golden State Warriors likely to pass on selecting a center in the NBA Draft

By Brett Siegel

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 of the Memphis Tigers waits on the court during a timeout during the second half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 12: James Wiseman #32 of the Memphis Tigers waits on the court during a timeout during the second half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Moda Center on November 12, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. Oregon won the game 82-74. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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The Warriors hold the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and have a need for a true center, but they likely won’t take one with their top pick.

The Golden State Warriors will enter the 2020-21 NBA season with solidified starting options at all of their positions except at center, but reports say they will likely pass on taking a center with their No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Connor Letourneau, Warriors’ beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote about the Warriors path back to contention and talked about how the Warriors will likely pass on taking one of the top centers in the draft, like James Wiseman out of Memphis.

Letourneau talked with those apart of Golden State’s organization and the general consensus he was provided with was that the Warriors, given their style of play, likely won’t look to add a center with their top pick.

James Wiseman (Memphis) and Onyeka Okongwu (USC) are the top centers in the 2020 NBA Draft, each being athletic centers who have shown they can run the floor well at the collegiate level.

If Golden State does pass on both of these two options with the No. 2 overall pick, it has been rumored that the Warriors are considering Anthony Edwards (Georgia), Deni Avdija (Israel), Devin Vassell (Florida State), and Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State).

Edwards and Avdija are two guys that Golden State would have to take with the No. 2 overall pick, but Vassell and Haliburton could still be on the board around picks 6-to-10 range, meaning the Warriors could potentially trade back if they fall in love with Vassell or Haliburton.

Kevon Looney, Marquese Chriss (partially guaranteed), and Alen Smailagic are all under contract at the center position for the Warriors this upcoming season, and with some of the rumored free agent targets such as Dwight Howard, Serge Ibaka and Aron Baynes, the Dubs will likely look to add wing and guard depth via the draft.

With the 2020 NBA Draft about a month away, trade talks will definitely start to circulate around Golden State and the No. 2 pick, and if the Warriors are able to pick up a few future draft picks and an established veteran player who can contribute to their championship formula now, it is highly likely they will trade out of the second-overall spot and move down in the lottery a little.

dark. Next. Can Alen Smailagic contribute now for the Warriors?

Expect Golden State to have a lottery pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but it may not be at No. 2 even though that is where they are currently slated to pick at on November 18th.

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