Golden State Warriors NBA Mock Draft: Final predictions before July 29
By Tony Pesta
6. Oklahoma City Thunder select: Jonathan Kuminga, F
Similar to Scottie Barnes, Jonathan Kuminga is one of the more polarizing prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has high-upside but comes with plenty of concerns. It’s unclear where Kuminga will fall in the lottery but it feels unlikely the Oklahoma City Thunder will pass on him if he’s available at six.
Kuminga is an eye-popping athlete. A 6’7″ forward with guard skills is something everyone is looking for in today’s NBA. He’s got speed, length and agility — making him a versatile weapon on both ends of the floor.
His path to success will likely rely on his ability to shoot the ball. Kuminga shot just 24.6 percent from the 3-point line in the G-League. With that being said, the Thunder can provide a great environment for Kuminga to work on his craft.
7. Golden State Warriors select: Jalen Johnson, F
The Golden State Warriors have a bit of a dilemma on their hands. We know that they’ve shown interest in prospects like Davion Mitchell, Keon Johnson and Moses Moody — and, all of them are still on the board at this point. However, Jalen Johnson should be the prospect they take a gamble on.
Johnson had dinner with the team recently and is a name that has gained traction among fans lately. The Duke forward averaged 11.2 points and 6.1 rebounds, showcasing some high-flying dunks and floor-spacing abilities.
Aside from Johnson genuinely being a worthy prospect at No. 7 who can help stretch the floor for Golden State in the frontcourt — he also makes sense in relation to the rest of the Warriors’ wish list. This class is full of guards who can help the Warriors and it makes more sense to capitalize on Johnson’s availability here and target a guard later in the lottery.