NBA Draft: How does Moses Moody fit with the Golden State Warriors?

Moses Moody provides Golden State Warriors with defense

An absolute technician on the perimeter, Moody has some of the best footwork in the class. He uses his solid frame and 7-foot wingspan in conjunction with active feet and fluid hips. He’s always primed to jump off either foot for smart, controlled shot contests. Though not the quickest downhill, Moody is so fluid in his movements that he can stay in front of just about anyone on the perimeter.

His sense of positioning is quite strong as well, denying strong hands and being poised for recovery if beaten. In a similar sense to Florida State’s Scottie Barnes, Moody won as a defender by forcing worse and worse choices. He doesn’t make egregious mistakes either, not fouling unnecessarily or being caught gambling.

The swing skill for Moody on defense will be his ability to defend quicker guards at the point of attack. He has all the tools to be a solid defender against off-ball and slower wings. The lack of top-flight burst and quickness brings question marks, and Moody didn’t thrive on quicker players.

If he can effectively guard 1-3 at the next level he could be a serious force on the defensive perimeter.

It’s hard to find a better fit at No. 7 than Moody

There’s a reason why Moody is so commonly matched to the Warriors. He’s got the right blend of fit, talent and projectability to maximize the value of this pick.

He’d be a candidate for some starts if able to acclimate quickly, as it’s expected Klay Thompson could miss some time early. A bench role as the complement to Jordan Poole’s skillset seems like a good place for Moody to develop a more consistent interior game.

Unless the Warriors trade out of the pick, expect Moody to hear his name called at seven. The fit is almost too obvious at this point. But there are certainly other players into consideration.