Golden State Warriors NBA Draft: Top 5 prospects to target

Golden State Warriors NBA Draft target: Jalen Green

It would take a stroke of luck for the Golden State Warriors to obtain the fourth pick in the NBA Draft AND have Jalen Green drop to them — but if the cards fall in the right order, Green could be available. It is possible the top-three teams talk themselves into Cade Cunningham, Jalen Suggs and Evan Mobley before selecting Green.

Pros

What is there not to love about Green? He is the definition of an explosive athlete, leaping into the air with ease. Though he isn’t a particularly bulky guard, he showed zero issues finishing through contact at the rim. Throw in Green’s smooth pull-up mechanics and knack for seeking out his own shot and it is easy to see why fans are in love with his game.

In the G-League, Green averaged 17.9 points and scored from every spot on the floor. He wasn’t the most willing passer but there is no question he is capable of making high-level reads when he does decide to give up the ball.

Cons

Like many offensive superstars, defense will be a problem for Green. He’s at an awkward size, standing 6’5″ with a 6’7″ wingspan. It is unclear what position Green will play or who he will be able to defend. Not to mention, he hasn’t shown much enthusiasm for defense in the first place.

Green was a streaky shooter in the G-League and his shot selection wasn’t always the greatest. He is overly eager to score the ball and that doesn’t always go his way. To sum it up, Green forces the issue more often than not.

Best Role

This type of sporadic decision-maker could be detrimental to the Warriors’ championship hopes. It is likely they would need to keep Green on a tight leash, using him as a secret weapon to score in bunches off the bench when he’s feeling himself. I’d consider him an uber-athletic version of Jordan Clarkson, for now, with the potential to be so much more.