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The forever
lottery bound Golden State Warriors have the 3rd
pick in the 2002 draft. Their Net GM is
Steve Besselman, how continues the the Ming Yao
slide by selecting
Mike
Dunleavy, SF, 6'10", Duke
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I. Introduction
2001-2002 Season
21-61 7th in the Pacific, Last in the Western Conference
Back to the Future ...
There is no off season in the Bay Area. Not when the Golden State Warriors have so much work ahead of them.
There is not a single NBA team that needs this draft more than your Golden State Warriors. The Clippers have young
talent everywhere, the Bulls have a Rose between two
phenoms, and the Wizards had the #1 pick last year and can still pray for
MJ. The Warriors hang their hopes and dreams on a roster
with a few bright spots and surpluses of mediocrity.
Warriors fans need reasons to believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Run TMC days of Tim
Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin are a distant glow in the
past. Currently, there is a glimmer of promise and potential
with young players Antawn Jamison and Jason Richardson.
But we need more proof that the sun will shine in Warrior
land again. Golden State needs the 2002 NBA draft. It is our only hope.
The lottery drawing was unfriendly to Golden State. With 2 can't miss prospects at the top of the draft, the Warriors won the 3rd pick. But maybe, just maybe, that's exactly where we need to be.
Remember the 1984 draft where Michael Jordan was taken 3rd? Two centers (Hakeem Olajuwon & Sam Bowie) were taken ahead
of him. And does this draft remind anyone else of the 1998 draft where the top 2 picks were a C and PG (Michael Olowokandi and Mike
Bibby)? Meanwhile, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Dirk
Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce were all available, but
not taken at #3.
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II. Personnel Changes
-- free agents -- 01-02 salary Contract
- G Mookie Blaylock $5,400,000 4-yr; 18.00m 01-02
- C Dean Garrett $3,240,000 5-yr; 15.00m 01-02
- F Cedric Henderson $3,000,000 3-yr; 9.00m 01-02
- G Dean Oliver $332,817 1-yr; 332k 01-02
-- restricted -- 01-02 salary Contract
- G Larry Hughes $1,310,400 4-yr; 7.51m 01-02
-- team option -- 01-02 salary Contract
- G Gilbert Arenas $332,817 2-yr; 845k 02-03
-- traded -- 01-02 salary Contract
- C Marc Jackson $3,250,000 6-yr; 24.38m 06-07
-- notes --
The Warriors matched an offer sheet from Houston for Marc Jackson with the intentions of trading him. Jackson signed as a free agent in 2000-2001, and finished third in Rookie of the Year
balloting. Many rumored deals fell through, and Jackson complaining bitterly from the bench for four months. He was finally traded at the deadline to Minnesota for journeyman Dean Garrett and a 2nd round pick in 2007.
That isn't exactly what the Warriors had in mind when they
matched Houston's offer.
This might have some effect on how they handle Larry Hughes this off season. He is a restricted free agent, and he wants to
test the market. After riding the bench at the end of the season,
there is not much incentive for Hughes to stay in Golden State.
A sign and trade would be great, but it will be interested to see if the Warriors are willing to sign Hughes without a deal already in place.
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III. Season Recap
First let's look at the past to understand where we've been:
2001-02 Season
- Golden State was 21-61 last year, 57-189 the last three seasons.
- The Warriors gave up the most points per game at 103.1.
- The Warriors shot an abysmal .429 from the field.
- The Warriors finished 1st in league in rebounding at 46.7 a game. However, they played a lot of high scoring games with a lot of missed shots.
- The Warriors matched an offer sheet for Marc Jackson with
the intentions of trading him. Jackson signed as a free
agent, and finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting
in 2000-2001. After many rumored deals fell through, and
with Jackson complaining bitterly from the bench for four
months, he was finally trading at the deadline for
journeyman Dean Garrett and a 2nd round pick in 2007 from
Minnesota.
- Coach Dave Cowens was fired in December after a mere 105
games with the Warriors. The players didn't respond to
Cowens style and there were several unhappy players voicing
their opinions in the papers. Assistant Brian Winters
coached the team for the remainder of the season.
- Jason Richardson won the All-Star slam-dunk competition,
as well as the Rookie Challenge MVP. His play continued
to improve after the All-Star break, and it looks like
he'll be an exciting player in the future.
- After trying to change position to PG, Larry Hughes was
benched at the end of the season. He has expressed interest
in testing the market as a restricted free agent. The Warriors
could match any offer for Hughes, but they might not want to
considering the trouble they had in trading an unhappy Marc
Jackson this past year.
- Interim Coach Brian Winters played his rookies heavily down
the stretch. Jason Richardson flourished. Gilbert Arenas
proved he deserves minutes and he won the Rookie of the Month
Award for April. Troy Murphy played more, but he still
played behind Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson.
- Danny Fortson was benched at the end of the year in favor
of starting Antawn Jamison at PF. Fortson's play had been
inconsistent, but it did open up questions about the team's
future at the position.
- In 2001-02 the Warriors paid over $17 million to Erick
Dampier, Mookie Blaylock, and Chris Mills. None of these
players were starters by the end of the year.
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IV. Roster
Backcourt
0 Gilbert Arenas G 6--3 191 1/06/82 Arizona '03 R
23 Jason Richardson G 6--6 220 1/20/81 Michigan State '03 R
3 Bob Sura G 6--5 200 3/25/73 Florida State '95 6
** 10 Mookie Blaylock G 6--1 190 3/20/67 Oklahoma '89 12
** 20 Larry Hughes G 6--5 184 1/23/79 St. Louis '01 3
** 2 Dean Oliver G 5-11 175 11/05/78 Iowa '01 R
** = free agent
The backcourt is thin and inexperienced.
The Warriors experimented with Larry Hughes
at PG at the start of the season. They drafted
Jason Richardson to be the SG of the future, so a position change made sense for Hughes. However, by midseason he was struggling after a promising start. His decision making never fully developed, and he was not successfully keeping the offense together. Hughes is only 23 year old, and he could still develop into a solid player. But after being benched at the end of the year he is expected to test the market as a restricted free agent.
If you need a reason to feel good about the Warriors future, look no further than Jason Richardson. The winner of the All-Star slam-dunk dunk competition and MVP of the Rookie Challenge, Richardson had a solid rookie season. He shot better than expected from the outside, and he brought the athleticism that made him the #5 pick in last years draft. He's a great finisher on the break, but the team would like to see him be more aggressive taking the ball to the basket. If Richardson can get to the free throw line more, he should challenge Antawn Jamison as the team's leading scorer.
Gilbert Arenas slipped into the 2nd round of last year's draft, and it looks like fortune was smiling on the Warriors. When Hughes struggled at PG, Arenas got a chance to show he belongs in the NBA. He's not a natural PG, but his ability to push the ball and shoot from the outside led to increased minutes. He's earned the chance to be in the guard rotation in the future.
Bob Sura is a veteran guard that brings energy and steady play off the bench. He was more of a playmaker this past year, as the team searched for answers at PG. His good play was still limited by his minutes, as the team put the rookies on the court to evaluate them. He's under contract for another 2 years, so he should provide a steady hand in the backcourt as the young players develop.
Mookie Blaylock is a free agent and will not be returning. Blaylock played/stayed out his contract, but had no interest in trying to lead a losing team.
Dean Oliver was held on injured reserve for most of the year. He or a rookie free agent might be signed to add depth to the backcourt in case of injuries.
Frontcourt
33 Antawn Jamison F 6--9 223 6/12/76 North Carolina '99 3
21 Danny Fortson F 6--8 260 3/27/76 Cincinnati '98 4
25 Erick Dampier C 6-11 265 7/14/74 Mississippi State '97 5
31 Adonal Foyle C 6-10 265 3/29/75 Colgate '98 4
1 Troy Murphy F 6-11 245 5/02/80 Notre Dame '02 R
34 Chris Mills F 6--7 220 1/25/70 Arizona '93 8
** 22 Dean Garrett C 6-11 250 11/27/66 Indiana '88 5
** 45 Cedric Henderson F 6--7 225 3/11/75 Memphis '97 4
** = free agent
The Warriors have a mixed bag in the frontcourt.
They've tied the ship to Antawn Jamison. He's a good player,
but he's yet to prove that he can make the players around
him better. But he is the leading scorer on the team at
19.7/game and he grabs 6.8 rebounds as well. He's now signed
through 2008, so continued improvement is a must for the
Warriors to improve.
As for rebounding, Danny Fortson is a machine in that category
(11.7/game). However, he is limited in other areas. Fortson
struggled on offense this past year, although he helps the team
with his offensive rebounding. He also has limitations on
defense which might not make him the best long term answer
at PF. He can play limited minutes at C, but is not much of
a shot blocker.
Troy Murphy was added to the team as the #14 pick in last
year's draft. He had a decent rookie season, but much more
will be expected of him next year. He should be a tough
matchup at 6'11" with a good jumpshot.
The PF position was a problem for the Warriors this past
year. Fortson is the starter, but he is sometimes pulled
to allow Jamison time at PF or to let Rookie Troy Murphy
get minutes. It's critical that a rotation is set at PF, as
Fortson or Jamison will not hesitate to criticize if they
feel they are being misused. Murphy needs playing time to
develop, too.
At C, the Warriors have the two headed monster of Adonal
Foyle and Erick Dampier. Simply stated, the Warriors could
use an upgrade here.
Dampier was mostly healthy this past year, but he eventually
lost his starting spot to Foyle who played with more energy.
Dampier is signed through 2006, so it's quite disappointing
to not have him hold on to the starting C spot. He started
the season well, but seemed to lose focus as the season
progressed. He is a big body and he does block shots at
the defensive end, but his lack of intensity does not help
his average offense.
Foyle is a more active and he hustles, but he is a limited
offensive player. Foyle does provide a good shot blocker
in the middle, where occasionally gives the team a lift at
the defensive end.
Chris Mills is a veteran reserve. He plays good defense,
and occasionally gives the team a boost on offense. However,
he is stuck in a backup role as the Warriors look to the
future.
I doubt Dean Garrett or Cedric Henderson will be resigned,
unless the team makes moves that require them to be kept
as backups.
Contracts
Player 2001-02 salary Total deal Signed through
Erick Dampier $6,235,000 7-yr; $48.00 2005-06
Mookie Blaylock $5,400,000 4-yr; 18.00 2001-02
Chris Mills $5,400,000 6-yr; 26.00 2002-03
Bob Sura $4,913,334 6-yr; 28.20 2003-04
Danny Fortson $4,441,558 7-yr; 38.00 2006-07
Adonal Foyle $4,400,000 4-yr; 17.50 2003-04
Antawn Jamison * $3,388,176 6-yr; 85.00 2006-07
Dean Garrett $3,240,000 5-yr; 15.00 2001-02
Cedric Henderson $3,000,000 3-yr; 9.00 2001-02
Jason Richardson $2,425,440 4-yr; 11.36 2004-05
Troy Murphy $2,343,635 4-yr; 6.48 2004-05
Larry Hughes $1,310,400 4-yr; 7.51 2001-02
Gilbert Arenas $332,817 2-yr; 845,252 2002-03
Dean Oliver $332,817 1-yr; 332,817 2001-02
* Antawn Jamison's 6-yr; 85 million dollar deal starts next year
Team Cap
- 2003 42,674,606
- 2004 46,886,603
- 2005 27,208,828
- 2006 29,653,959
- 2007 22,546,591
- 2008 17,265,625
| 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 |
Antawn Jamison | * | * | * | * | * | * |
Danny Fortson | * | * | * | * | * | |
Erick Dampier | * | * | * | * | | |
Jason Richardson | * | * | * | | | |
Troy Murphy | * | * | * | | | |
Bob Sura | * | * | | | | |
Adonal Foyle | * | * | | | | |
Chris Mills | * | | | | | |
Gilbert Arenas | * | | | | | |
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V. Coaching/Management
The Warriors are looking for stability right now. They
have young players that need to develop. They are not going
to win immediately, even if they shake up the coaching staff.
That being said they have not tipped their hand about who
will coach the team next year. Interim Coach Brian Winters
finished the season, after Dave Cowens was fired. The players
responded to Winters style, although it didn't translate to
an improved record.
It would seem that the team should give Winters a vote of
confidence, and let him continue the job. However, if the
team feels that it can attract a high-profile coach, they
may wait to see what develops.
GM Gary St. Jean was heavily criticized for the Marc Jackson
fiasco. There have been other questionable moves in the past,
but St. Jean's job is secure for now. The organization will
try to build on last year's strong draft.
At the end of the season, there were rumors that the Warriors
were trying to get Jerry West to come out of retirement and
run the organization. West phoned St. Jean to assure him that
he was not interested in a job with the team. Later he became
the GM of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Another hot rumor was that they were looking for a high profile
coach a la Jeff Van Gundy. However, Van Gundy has shown no
interest in the job, stating that there is a lot of pressure
to win-now in the NBA, and that he wouldn't want to coach
a team that is rebuilding.
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VI. Previous Drafts (Bad Mojo)
The Warriors draft history is not good. Draft day trades
have not worked in the Warriors favor, and too many of their
prospects have never fulfilled their potential. Last year
was widely believed to be a very successful draft for the
Warriors. Let's hope that's a trend that continues ...
1995-1998 Draft picks passed on ...
- 1998 passed on Paul Pierce
- 1998 passed on Dirk Nowitzki
- 1998 passed on Vince Carter
- 1997 passed on Tracy McGrady
- 1996 passed on Kobe Bryant
- 1995 passed on Kevin Garnett
- 1995 passed on Antonio McDyess
- 1995 passed on Jerry Stackhouse
- 1995 passed on Rasheed Wallace
- 1995 passed on Michael Finley
Recent Draft History
- 2001 - #5 Jason Richardson, Michigan State
#14 Troy Murphy, Notre Dame
#31 Gilbert Arenas, Arizona
- 2000 - #55 Chris Porter, Auburn
- 1999 - #21 Jeff Foster, Southwest Texas State
#21 pick from Atlanta
Golden State traded draft rights to
Jeff Foster to Indiana in exchange for
draft rights to Vonteego Cummings
(26th overall) and a future first-round
pick.
- 1998 - #5 Vince Carter, North Carolina
Toronto traded the rights to Antawn Jamison
to Golden State for the rights to Vince
Carter and cash.
- 1997 - #8 Adonal Foyle, Colgate
- 1996 - #11 Todd Fuller, North Carolina State
- 1995 - #1 Joe Smith, Maryland
- 1994 - #16 Cliff Rozier, Louisville
- 1993 - #3 Anfernee Hardaway, Memphis State
Orlando traded the rights to Chris Webber to
Golden State for the rights to Anfernee Hardaway
and 3 future first-round draft choices.
- 1992 - #24 Latrell Sprewell, Alabama
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VII. Team Needs
The Warriors need help at both ends of the court. Without
a proven PG, they struggle on offense. Defensively, the
team does not have a true defensive stopper at any position.
They shot a poor .429 from the field while giving up a
.459 FG% to opponents.
They need a PG to be the floor leader, to initiate the offense,
and to create opportunities for teammates. Too often the ball
ends up in Jamison or Richardson's hands as the shot clock is
expiring. The team lacks players with dominating moves or
scoring ability, and they settled for too many jumpers taken
by average shooters. They attempted to hide their deficiencies
by playing up tempo, but it's obvious in the half-court.
The Warriors would benefit from a strong inside presence at
C or PF. They don't match up well inside against athletic big
men. Foyle, Dampier, and Fortson would make a nice backups
to an athletic post player, but they have limitations that
show with extended playing time. The entire frontcourt is
unsettled with Jamison, Fortson, Murphy, and Richardson all
taking turns at multiple positions. The team needs someone
to step forward and lock down the forward slots.
Defensively, the team needs to do something to slow opposing
teams. They finished dead last in the NBA in points given
up per game (103.1). The young players should improve given
time, but it's important that Antawn Jamison makes a
commitment to defense as well.
Athletically, the team has limitations. Most of the Warriors'
players are strong in 1 or 2 categories, but they don't match
up well in numerous situations. If the Warriors could add a
top notch athlete in the draft, it might help the team adapt
to different styles of play and different matchups.
Finally the team needs to see continued improvements from it's
young players. The Warriors had a good draft last year, and
those players are going to have to get better. Without much
room under the salary cap, the team will go only as far as
their current roster and draft picks take them.
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Warriors Selection
My Selection with the #3 Pick: Mike Dunleavy
The decision here is between Yao Ming and
Mike Dunleavy.
Jay Williams is off the board. Drew Gooden is a
consideration, but the team is already committed to Jamison.
Caron Butler might have been a good fit, but he's already
been taken.
So, would the Warriors benefit more by drafting an
athletic 7'5" C with tremendous upside, or by drafting
a 6'9" SF with good all-around skills and great ability
to make plays?
If I were GM Gary St. Jean, I would hope that the 2002 NBA
draft does not follow the Usenet Draft's top 2 picks.
Ming or Mike? Yao or Dunleavy? It's a tough question without
an absolute answer. Either player might be taken #1 in the
draft.
However, the great thing about a mock draft is that 3 NBA
teams can pass on a guy that is 7'5".
The pick is Dunleavy.
It's tough to pass on Yao. It's Public Relations nightmare
for the Warriors, as the Bay Area would be one of the best
places for a Chinese player to adapt to the NBA and American
culture. Yao is the most intriguing player in the draft.
He would instantly put fans in the seats at the Arena.
He has great potential, and he is the best prospect
at the most difficult position to fill on a NBA roster.
But there are just too many questions.
Would Ming be allowed to play full seasons with the Warriors,
or would he have to play for China in international tournaments?
Can he develop post moves and an inside game, or is he going
to be a 7'5" jumpshooter? Will he be able to add the strength
needed to stay in the low post?
Ming is a project. The reward may be great, but the Warriors
aren't in a position to take big gambles. They could draft
him and then trade him, but it's not clear that such a move
would be in their best interest.
The team needs a lot of help. And that's exactly why Mike
Dunleavy is the perfect pick. He's a lethal outside shooter.
He's a good ballhandler. He's a good passer. He's 6'9". But
the best thing about Dunleavy is his feel for the game.
If the Warriors are trying to build a team, they need someone
to be the glue. Dunleavy is the man for the job. He is
the type of player that will make the players around him
better. He played PG in high school and he understands how
to move the ball and setup plays. As a coach's son with a great
basketball IQ, he would help the team get into an offensive
flow. It won't take him much time to learn the mental aspects
of the NBA. He's a natural in that area.
He will need to add strength to compete in the NBA. However,
he has good size for a SF and he is a good rebounder. With
Jason Richardson and Dunleavy playing the wings, teams would
have to worry about how they matchup with the Warriors for
a change.
Adding Dunleavy at SF would also give the Warriors more options
in building the team for the future. His versatility would
make him a perfect player to build around. Other pieces are
in place in Jamison, Richardson, Murphy, and Arenas. Adding
Dunleavy to the mix would give the Warriors a great mix of
young talented players.
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IX. Players Considered
Jay Williams PG Duke 6--2 195
Fantastic scorer with great range. Excellent 3 point
shooter. Nice court vision and outstanding handles.
Relentless offensive player. NBA type body. Excellent
quickness and strength. An immediate
impact type player.
IF Jay Williams is the pick:
The Warriors would draft Jay Williams to run the team's
offense. He and Jason Richardson would be an exciting
duo in the backcourt. Gilbert Arenas would become
first guard off the bench, and the Warriors would have
a strong rotation with Williams, Richardson, Arenas,
and Bobby Sura. Williams would provide and outside
shooting threat and floor leader that the team has been
so desperately seeking. It would be a great fit of
talent and need would the Warriors be able to get
Williams. The question is does Williams drop in any
possible scenario, and if not what would the Warriors
give up to acquire him?
Caron Butler SF UConn 6--7 243
Amazing workouts have Butler's stock on the rise. He
may be ready to contribute to an NBA team immediately.
He has an NBA body, and the ability to play both inside
and outside. Runs the floor well and finishes strong. He
is mentally and physically tough. Butler is a good rebounder
and a solid defender. He shot more consistently from the
outside this past season, and he finished the season on
fire with an impressive run in the NCAA tournament.
IF Caron Butler is the pick:
He's not the PG or C that the Warriors need, but he might
be the most talented player on the board at #3. Adding
more athleticism would be a good move for the sometimes
deliberate Warriors. Butler's inside/outside game would
compliment Antawn Jamison's game at PF. A forward rotation
of Jamison, Butler, Troy Murphy, and Danny Fortson would
give the Warriors a lot of options and opportunities for
mismatches. If Butler is the pick it might be a signal
that Larry Hughes and/or Danny Fortson are being traded
for a PG or additional help.
Yao Ming C Shanghai (China) 7--5 295
Ming is athletic and 7'5". Obviously, NBA teams are
drooling over him. He's been compared to a more mobile
Rik Smits. He's very fluid and quick running the floor.
He has a good jumpshot with range out to the NBA 3 point
line. He reportedly has good lower body strength, giving
scouts hope he can add more weight and strength in his upper
body. He's a good shot blocker although his reach is not
that impressive for his height. Ming would have to prove he
could hold position in the post against NBA players, however
the potential matchup problems could be nightmares for
opposing teams.
IF Yao Ming is the pick:
The Warriors haven't shown much interest in Yao to this
point. It's been surprising, since he could be a fan favorite
with the Bay Area's large Asian population. Even if Ming took
time to develop he would help put fans in the seats at
the Oakland Arena. However, the Warriors may not feel
that he would be a big upgrade over Erick Dampier and Adonal
Foyle. If he is the pick, then it would signal the end of
either Dampier or Foyle's days in the Warriors uniform.
Ming's ability to run the court would give the Warriors a
Center capable of keeping up with Jamison and Richardson.
If he can hold his ground against Western Conference Centers,
he would give the Warriors a tough matchup at the hardest
position to fill on an NBA roster.
Mike Dunleavy SF Duke 6--9 220
Is he the next Larry Bird or the next Keith Van Horn?
Dunleavy's versatility makes him a tough matchup. He's a
deadly outside shooter, great ball handler, and good
rebounder. He needs to add strength, but his feel for the
game makes him a top 5 pick. Former High School point guard
has grown to 6'9", but still has guard skills. Described as
a wolf in sheep's clothing, he'll kill you quietly the court.
Dunleavy may have limits on his athleticism and quickness,
but his basketball smarts and all-around abilities make him
a deadly player.
IF Mike Dunleavy is the pick:
The Warriors need talent, and Dunleavy is one of the most
talented players in the draft. His outside shooting would
improve the Warrior's dreadful shooting from 3 point land.
Dunleavy's ball-handling and good decision making would also
seriously upgrade the Warriors offense. Dunleavy would
bring an interesting combination of play making ability
and basketball smarts to a Warriors front court that needs
both. He would need to gain strength, as a starting
frontcourt with Antawn Jamison and Dunleavy might get
pushed around by larger NBA forwards. However, the
potential matchup problems that Dunleavy could create on
offense are very tempting.
Drew Gooden PF Kansas 6-10 240
Athletic big man with great quickness. Gooden is a strong
rebounder with great leaping ability. Very versatile skill
set, but he will need to add weight and strength to compete
against NBA power forwards. Gooden is more polished than
other PF prospects in the draft. He has some SF skills, but
overall plays like a PF. Has very good potential, as scouts
believe he will be able to bulk up without affecting his game.
IF Drew Gooden is the pick:
Then it's a signal of future changes for the Warriors. Gooden
would make Danny Fortson expendable. Or Antawn Jamison.
Or Troy Murphy. The Warriors have a bit of a logjam at PF,
but a talented PF in Gooden might make the picture clear.
The Warriors will start paying Antawn Jamison a lot of money
next year (10+ million/year). Jamison is really untradeable
because of the Base Year Cap status of his contract. However,
a little competition might ensure that Jamison earns his
money, and might provide the Warriors with multiple options
for the future. Golden State's roster has it's share of
players with average talent and large contracts. It never
hurts to have young talented players still in their rookie
contracts. A roster shakeup might benefit the Warriors, and
Gooden may be one of the new building blocks for the future.
Dejuan Wagner PG/SG Memphis 6--2 200
Wagner nearly entered the NBA draft out of high school.
He once scored 100 points in a high-school game, and he's
been on NBA radar screens for a while now. But now as an
experienced college player (1 year at Memphis), he looks
to make his mark in the NBA. There isn't a reason to wait,
as Wagner stands to be an impact player during his pro career.
A pure scorer, Wagner is often compared to Allen Iverson. He's
in the same mold as a shoot-first Point Guard or a pass-second
Shooting Guard. However, Wagner is bigger and stronger than
A.I. He can get his shot wherever he wants, even if he tends
to take it too much.
IF Dejuan Wagner is the pick:
If Jay Williams is the girl you wanted to take to the High
School prom, then Dejuan Wagner might be the really fun
girl who asked you the day before when you didn't have a date.
Wagner would be an interesting option for the Warriors if
they couldn't obtain Williams. The question would be
if he would be able to initiate and run an NBA offense.
The Warriors drafted their SG of the future in Jason
Richardson last year. If Wagner and Richardson were able
to mesh their games on the court, then a three guard rotation
with Gilbert Arenas would be very dangerous. However,
fire power alone, isn't all the Warriors need. They really
do need someone to take care of the basketball, and set up
other players. If Wagner can dish the ball half as well
as he shoots it, he might be the Warriors Answer.
Maybyner "Nene" Hilario PF Brazil 6-11 260
A 19-year-old Brazilian import, Nene's stock has been
rising fast. He has a 7'4" wingspan, and might even
play Center in the NBA. Good shotblocker. He's an
incredible athlete, and he's polished his game against
international competition. It's been reported that
he's having great workouts for teams.
IF "Nene" Hilario is the pick:
The pick would indicate a shakeout of the frontcourt
with some type of trade of current players in the
works. If the Warriors take him, he would be expected
to eventually play Center and man the post. They
could use an upgrade over Erick Dampier and Adonal
Foyle, and Hilario could be just that. He would
not have the first year impact that some other
picks might. However, if he is capable of being an NBA
center, teams are always looking for players with size.
Drafting Hilario to play PF doesn't make much sense
unless the Warriors are not happy with Antawn Jamison,
Danny Fortson, and Troy Murphy. He's included here
because it's been reported that he's been rising up
draft boards, and there is no telling how high he might
go.
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Additional Moves the Warriors Might Make
The team is going to have to deal with Larry Hughes.
If they can find a sign-and-trade that brings something
back for him, it would be great. It would be even better
if they could package Hughes with another player, and
receive a veteran PG.
The Warriors don't have teams knocking down the doors making
offers for players, but they do have a couple of tradeable
players.
Chris Mills is in the last year of his contract and might
be attractive to a team trying to clear cap space. Adonal
Foyle and Bobby Sura are free agents in 2 years, and either
player would be a useful reserve. Danny Fortson is a tough
rebounder and he might be on the block after several outburst
at teammates and management this past season.
Expect the team to do something to try to add another player
in the backcourt. They'll be looking for help later in the
draft, with rookie free agents, or by signing a veteran
free agent. The Warriors 2nd Round draft pick will be put
to good use.
Other moves the team might make are moving up or down in
the draft. It would not be unthinkable for them to go
to great lengths to obtain Jay Williams. Williams appears
to be the perfect blend of talent and need for this
Warriors team, and the team already has a stable of young
players. Giving up future draft picks may allow the Warriors
to swing a deal.
If they don't move up, they very well may move down.
They could still get value later in the lottery, and
they may be able to force a team to take a undesirable
contract in the process.
Finally, the Warriors would love to add a veteran. They have
plenty of young players, and they could use a veteran leaders
influence in the locker room and on the court.
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