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Golden State Warriors’ potential draft prospect may now be out of range

By Peter O'Keefe

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Head coach Steve Kerr (L) and governor Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors look on during a game between the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 10: Head coach Steve Kerr (L) and governor Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors look on during a game between the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 10, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors hold the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, with the franchise seeking to add to their stock of young talent when it takes place on June 22 at Barclays Center.

Draft boards are shifting on a near-daily basis, making it difficult to ascertain who exactly will be available with the Warriors’ 19th pick. There also remains the possibility of the franchise trading the pick as part of a deal for more established talent.

Having got a first-hand look at him in the last fortnight, the Golden State Warriors may not have access to athletic big man Derek Lively II.

For months, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor had the Warriors selecting Duke center Derek Lively II with their first-round pick. Yet after working out with Golden State earlier in the month, O’Connor believes the 7’1″ big man has surged up the rankings and potentially out of the Warriors’ grasp.

In the most recent update of his mock draft, O’Connor has the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Lively with the 12th overall pick. If that’s anywhere near the case in reality, Golden State would need to trade up to get access to the 19-year-old.

O’Connor now has the the Warriors taking 21-year-old Colby Jones, a two-way wing who is likely to be more of a meaningful contributor in the short-term. With three years of college experience at the Xavier Musketeers, O’Connor compares Jones to Malcolm Brogdon who won the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2017.

Jones has steadily risen in draft rankings after showing signs of major improvement in his junior season. The 6’6″ wing increased his scoring from 7.7, to 11.6, to 15 points per game over his three seasons, shooting the ball at 37.3% from three-point range in 2022-23 having previously shot 29.2% the year before.

Jones also averaged 4.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in a multi-dimensional game that could have an impact at NBA-level right away. Despite his improvement in three-point percentage, most still view his jumpshot as a critical area for development once he hits the league.

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The Warriors possess three first-round picks from the last two drafts, taking Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody as lottery picks in 2021, and forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. with the 28th overall pick in 2022.

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