Warriors Draft Strategy

by ohad on Mar 24, 2006 3:42 PM PST

Hello all, new here. Visiting from Athletics Nation.

My story:

16 years old (well, almost) from Berkeley California. Warriors are my basketball team. Currently in Israel, though i'm coming back in the summer.

Basically, my first diary will be about what i think the Warriors draft should look like.

Top need is an athletic and talented Small Forward. The ideal person would be LSU's own freshman sensation, Tyrus Thomas. The Warriors are currently drafting 10th i think, and barring an unforseen win streak that faults them into the playoffs, they'll be somewhere in the lower end of the lottery. The Warriors should do all they can to trade up and get this player. But, it's unlikely.

The top 4 will likely be Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Lamarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay. Rounding out the top 10 are Bargnani, the Italian prospect, Joakim Noah (i'd love for him to fall to the Warriors), Josh McRoberts (if he declares), Randy Foye, Rodney Carney and Brandon Roy with others like Shelden Williams, Ronnie Brewer and JJ Redick also possible.

Obviously, the Warriors also need a competent Center, so if Noah falls the Warriors would have to take him. Bargnani would be another interesting choice if he fell. Both of those are also unlikely.

A sleeper possibility though is Rudy Gay of UConn. It's highly unlikely he falls that far, but he didn't have a great tournament.

Most likely, the W's end up having to choose between Shelden Williams (no need), Rodney Carney (is he good enough to be an NBA small forward) and Randy Foye (the next Dwayne Wade?). Foye is a 6'2 guard, which makes him not as useful on the Warriors depth chart. But if they can clear Fisher and his contract (definitely obtainable during the summer), they might do it.

Over the summer, they have to take every step to get Dunleavy's ass out of Oakland. I'm sick and tired of him underachieving and just plain sucking.

Best case scenario:W's somehow swing a deal for Kevin Garnett (Baron Davis and Michael Pietrus?).

Next best case: Get lucky in the lottery and can choose between Gay and Thomas.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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Comments

Welcome Ohad

Great to have you on board. Excellent reviews of the prospects.

The Golden State of Mind Squad (the writers) are a good mix of A's and Giants fans. I'm the kind of guy who wears gear from both teams.

Trust me the draft coverage here is going to be nuts! Flip back at all the stuff we had last year (hosted at our former home Golden State Warriors BLOG). We even had live coverage. It was really fun.

I've been thinking about the upcoming lottery and draft. I think the Warriors really need to trade the pick. They already have enough young prospects. I would be surprised if one of the players they get in the late lottery can step in immediately.

We're not a farm system! We've been rebuilding for 12 years. Let's hope they can get a real star player through a trade this offseason.

by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 24, 2006 5:21 PM PST reply actions

What? Trade the pick?!

I'm for trading to move up. But trading for a veteran player? Remember how Gary St Jean passes up the chance to draft No. 10 Jason Terry and trades the pick to obtain Mookie Blaylock. Mookie never met a golf course he didn't like. As the team captain he skips practice on the road to hit the golf course.

by kirkkazas on Mar 24, 2006 6:40 PM PST up reply actions

Hahaha

Fantasy Junkie and I were actually talking about missing out on Terry and getting Mookie when we watching the Mavs game. Ah, good times.

Again, I'm not saying bring in some scrub veteran. I'm saying that the last thing the Warriors need is another project and they should try to package the pick with a bad contract and bring in a good veteran player. Someone like a Rashard Lewis or Corey Maggette.

by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 25, 2006 12:01 AM PST up reply actions

Rashard Lewis

Man, that would be a great trade. Rashard Lewis is a great fit as our small forward, though the defense is still lacking.

Which pisses me off, because Artest is EXACTLY what this team needs. I love Diogu, but if Murphy is signed for 5 more years and Biedrins looking nice, why keep Diogu when he won't even start for us???

by ohad on Mar 25, 2006 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

I agree about the small forward

Dunleavy clearly is meant to be an oversized point guard, and Pietrus clearly can't handle the SF position, so it's something that really needs to be addressed (and would already be addressed had they taken someone like Danny Granger or Gerald Green in the draft last year. Not that I don't like Ike (who doesn't?) but he certainly isn't as useful with Murphy/Biedrins around.) Unfortunately there just aren't many of those in this draft, I think Rodney Carney would be ideal, (Thomas strikes me as more of a power foward, though I'm sure he'd be able to handle the 3) and after him there are a LOT of power forwards who don't strike me really one way or the other. Ronnie Brewer is intriguing in a trade down situation, but I don't really think he could be turned into a 3, so I'd rather they take one of the centers around (Bradley's Patrick O'Bryant, UConn's Hilton Armstrong), although it wouldn't surprise me if Mullin fell in love with that dork JJ Redick and took him. In fact that's fully what I expect to happen, much to my chagrin.

by jonathan on Mar 25, 2006 1:16 AM PST reply actions

Thomas

I see Kevin Garnett in him, which is why i suggest him as a small forward.

Carney would be a great catch as well.

I would love to be able to draft Randy Foye (who is being labeled as the next Dwayne Wade) and trade Davis for Garnett if possible.

Patrick O'Bryant might be a decent pick, but for some reason he just strikes me as a Todd Fuller....

by ohad on Mar 25, 2006 1:22 PM PST up reply actions

Thomas

How tall is Thomas, I thought I heard yesterday he is 6'7". If that is the case he is no Garnett. By the way Ohad, good to hear from you on this blog, loved your stuff on AN. I have returned from China for good, a great 6 years but everything has an end, now I can be here to watch the Warriors miss the playoffs again.

by wushi on Mar 26, 2006 11:59 AM PST reply actions

wushi

The real question is how are the Shangai Sharks doing? Any prospects? The next Yao? The next Wang Zhi Zhi?

by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 26, 2006 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure

He is 6'9. The Garnett comp isn't because of the height. It's because of the way he play, and his style of basketball. He gets higher up then anyone to get the rebounds, and his extremely long arms contest any shot. He's a tenacious defender. Watching him dominate the paint in the NCAA tourny is a thing of beauty.

by ohad on Mar 28, 2006 5:31 AM PST up reply actions

Thomas

I've only seen a couple of his tournament games, but Tyrus Thomas reminds me a lot of early Darius Miles. That's not an insult.

I remember how much love Miles got early in his career, but he never developed his game or attitude to match his physical talents.

If Thomas ever develops a reliable jump shot, then the comparisons inch into Marion/Garnett territory.

Still annoyed that we drafted Tod Fuller

by teagle @ Golden State Of Mind on Mar 28, 2006 9:06 AM PST up reply actions

Thomas and Carney

Thomas is listed at 6-7, but during the postgame interviews yesterday, he was taller than Jay Bilas, who I thought was 6-8. He also looked taller than Big Baby, who is listed at 6-9. I don't see the Garnett comparisons, though.
Carney reminds me a lot of Shawn Marion. He didn't have a good game yesterday, but that's because John Calipari has no concept of halfcourt offense and no guards who are proficient at that type of game.

by Voodoo Chile on Mar 26, 2006 3:26 PM PST reply actions

I got to say

The more and more I watch the tourney, the more I love Noah. I had Florida in my final 4 so I've had my eye on him for a little while now, but he's really shown he can play on a big stage and produce. He's got nice inside game but on the flip side...maybe not enough for this W's team. Could be a slightly better version of Murph on the low block, but not much more. Who knows, I'm really not that impressed with this draft class.

by MoUpInTheO on Mar 27, 2006 6:02 PM PST reply actions

noah

yea the kid looks good, plus he can play solid defense. there was a nice article on him on espn that i can't find, but basically it mentioned that he used to play point in high school. then he hit this huge growth spurt to get to 7'0" so now he's got the ball handling skills of a point guard and the body of a center. now he's learning to play the 5 and has soft hands and a nice touch.

warriors should get this guy. but he's playing so well now, he probably won't drop out of the top 5.

by Fantasy Junkie on Mar 27, 2006 10:20 PM PST up reply actions

Noah

I was really impressed with Noah, although he needs to gain about 25 pounds to thrive in the pros. Based on the few games I've seen, I think a couple of decent comparisons are Theo Ratliff (on the low side) and Dwight Howard (on the high side).

Still annoyed that we drafted Tod Fuller

by teagle @ Golden State Of Mind on Mar 28, 2006 9:09 AM PST up reply actions