Golden State Warriors will be happy anywhere in NBA Draft Lottery
By Tony Pesta
It feels strange that just a few months ago we were talking about how unusual it is for a team such as the Golden State Warriors to have one of the top picks in the NBA Draft. Now, less than a year later, the Dubs are having the same conversation.
Except for this time, it’s even more peculiar. The Dubs have a chance to draw two lottery picks this season in what is expected to be a loaded draft. Regardless of where they land, the Dubs should be excited.
Wherever the Golden State Warriors land in the NBA Draft Lottery, they’ll be happy just to add more young talent to the core.
We’ll start with the Warriors’ own first round pick. Currently, the Dubs sit with the 13th best odds to win the lottery. They have a less than four percent chance to secure a top-four pick and a one percent chance at jumping all the way to first.
Barring any miracles, the Dubs will most likely select outside of the top 10 when it comes to their own pick. However, this is nothing to complain about. The Warriors could really find a hidden gem here with the potential for names like Corey Kispert, Jaden Springer, Franz Wagner to drop to the back end of the lottery.
As for the Minnesota Timberwolves pick, not much has changed since we last looked at the lottery odds. The Wolves, Houston Rockets remain the top three teams with a roughly 60 percent chance of falling out of the top three. In this event, the Warriors would retain the Wolves’ first round pick.
Being at fourth or fifth in the order would be fantastic for the Dubs. Sure, they’ll likely miss on the chance to draft Cade Cunningham or Jalen Suggs after his electric performance in the Final Four – but there are other players who are worth considering. Names like Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jonathan Kuminga could all be available.
I can’t stress enough how insane it would be to add one of these talents to the Warriors’ already strong young core. Developing the likes of James Wiseman, Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall next to two lottery picks is an easy path to rebuilding the dynasty.
If I had my pick of any top prospect, I think Jalen Green would be the most exciting one to join the Warriors. His springy athleticism and fluid shooting gives him all the makings of a superstar. Not to mention, his freakishly long arms could help him be a lockdown defender one day.
Then, at the back of the lottery, choosing an experienced college player like Corey Kispert would be ideal. This allows the Warriors to throw out lineups that offer a good variety of experience and youth. Kispert has played four seasons with Gonzaga and shot 44.5 percent from the 3-point line in his senior year.
But, as I said, the Warriors will simply be happy to select any of the top guys here. All of them are loaded with potential. With a bit of luck, the Dubs will have an interesting lineup next season.