Grading the Warriors’ bold decision to draft Brandin Podziemski

The Golden State Warriors had a busy draft day. The blockbuster deal that dominated the day was trading Jordan Poole for Chris Paul, a big-time swing that signaled the team’s focus on winning now, even if it meant some big risks. That led many to expect the Warriors to trade the 19th pick for a veteran.

They instead elected to stand pat, not trading up or down and making the pick when they came on the clock. They also didn’t go after an “old” prospect, but took a player that rocketed up draft boards since the NBA Draft Combine.

Who did the Warriors draft on Thursday night?

With the No. 19 pick, the Warriors drafted Brandin Podziemski, a 6’4″ guard from nearby Santa Clara. He becomes just the third player ever drafted out of Santa Clara, joining Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash and last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up Jalen Williams. That’s not a bad trio of players.

Brandin Podziemski began his college career at Illinois where he struggled to see the court for a team packed with talent, transferring to Santa Clara and instantly becoming their best player and putting together a massive year. He averaged 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 43.8 percent form 3-point range.

Podziemski was a darling of most analytical models heading into the draft; Kevin Pelton’s model ranked him as the second-best player in the entire draft class. That comes from his deadeye shooting and incredible steal rates, not to mention a rebounding rate more like a center than a 6’4″ guard. He’s a good passer, can put the ball on the deck and hit midrangers, and has great touch on his floater.

What is so intriguing about his fit on the Warriors is that he can shoot off-the-dribble or off-the-catch, giving him a lot of lineup versatility. He was often compared in the pre-draft process to Donte DiVincenzo, and the Warriors loved what they got from DiVincenzo this past season.

What’s not to like about Podziemski?

The big red flag with Podziemski is his size. He is 6’4″ tall with just a 6’5.5″ wingspan, and when you add in a thin frame and poor athleticism it seems like he could just be sized out of the league altogether. Despite his fast hands and plethora of steals in college, he will be a target on defense due to his size.

The other issue commonly brought up was how he struggled against better competition, from his time at Illinois to Santa Clara’s big games last season. His worst games of the year came against the best teams he faced. Is that a result of his size and athleticism limitations, and will it be exacerbated in the NBA?

Golden State wants players who can survive on defense and shoot on offense, and Podziemski can certainly do the second. He will have to prove he can do the first, and do so on a team trying to win titles while he develops.

It’s surprising that the Warriors let Villanova forward Cam Whitmore continue to drop past them, given their confidence in their medical staff and their selection of Patrick Baldwin Jr. last season. The same goes for Duke’s Dariq Whitehead. Many Warriors fans seemed to want Kris Murray, seen as something of a win-now player.

Players that are overwhelmingly dominant in the analytical models rarely miss entirely, and Podziemski is a great competitor and knockdown shooter who is worth taking a shot on. Still, there were other players on the board that the Warriors would likely have been better served taking here.

Grade: B-