Just because i’d be losing sleep over thinking about how player X would help out the Warriors, or how a blockbuster could vaunt us into the WCF.

With that said, Here’s my Big Board of the guys mentioned in this diary:

1. Donte Greene – High upside player. Big versatile Forward that all small ball teams seem to have and covet. Will take a couple of years of course, but that shouldn’t be a concern if Mullin indeed intends to build around the young core. Doesn’t seem to be much of a rebounder/defender as of yet. Likes to hang out around the 3pt line too much.

2. DeAndre Jordan – I could’ve put him number one, if we didn’t have to go through the POB fiasco. I love his size, athleticism and rebounding. I don’t like the questions GM’s have about his heart and work ethic. I think for all NBA players to succeed, they need to have outstanding work ethic and desire for the game (something POB doesn’t have as some say). If he pans out, he and Wright would make a devastating combo.

3. Danilo Gallinari – I could be happy if he turns into a Toni Kukoc type of player. Even if he’s more of a Diaw type player. The Warriors will need another facilitator if Monta is indeed the starting PG in the future. I think he’d have to play SF in the NBA. He seems to be a defensive liability right now as he seems rather slow. Has good size though at around 6’10’’. I like the playmaking skills he shows for his position and the ability he has in getting to the line.

4. Joe Alexander – If you’ve seen his ESPN Insider video with Chad Ford, phew he’s an amazing athletic forward. I really think he’ll be the second (and slightly more athletic) coming of Linas Kleiza. Solid 6th man or role playing starting SF. But how’s his defense?

Check out the Insider free preview of Joe Alexander’s workout Here

5. Anthony Randolph – There’s a reason why he’s being picked in the high lottery. I’ve never watched him play so I wouldn’t know why. From his highlights he definitely looks athletic enough for the NBA SF-PF position. Really reminds me of Tayshaun Prince with more aggression. He’s 5th for me just because we already have Wright who has a similiar skillset and body type as Randolph.

6. Russel Westbrook – Comes up 6th because we really don’t have a need for another combo guard. Yes, I know he can play longer than he is (6’3’‘), but it still won’t help against the premier SG’s of the league. And we all know Monta can’t guard them either, so unless we want to have the worst defensive backcourt in the entire NBA, we need to get a average-above average height SG. I’d love Westbrook to be the 6th man off the bench to spell Monta and Baron however. Don’t see him getting passed the Blazers at 13 however.

If you look at Blazers Edge, they have a nice discussion about him here.

7. Darrell Arthur – 7th because we already have Wright. I’m surprised these mock sites didn’t have Mareese Speights at 14 at all. I think Speights would be a better fit for us as the first Big off the bench due to his length (6’11’‘), scoring ability and rebounding. Arthur stands at just 6’9’’ but is said to have a little more polish in the low block. Speights could come in off the bench and play serviceable center minutes. Arthur might be a little undersized. I’m wary about Arthur’s disappearing acts throughout his NCAA career. But atleast he showed up for the championship game going against (of all people) JOEY DORSEY. But it’s a good performance at the right time that has vaulted countless players higher than they should’ve been taken.

8. JaVale McGee – Worried about taking another project big with questionable desire. Seems The Big Secret is working hard at least. I wonder if POB ever worked that hard pre-draft?

9. Nicolas Batum – Higher than Budinger because his ceiling is higher and more of a playmaker than Budinger is. However he hasn’t dominated in the French league, which he should. The Euroleague is understandable, but at least Gallinari is putting up numbers to justify his potential in the lottery.

10. Chase Budinger – Good shooting, good athleticism. Other than that, what can he bring to a team? I think with Chase, the guy you see his first year in the league is the same guy you’re gonna see in his sixth year.

I think another guy the warriors should look into is Brandon Rush. Check his updates Here
and Here. I like his outside shooting ability, relative readiness to contribute right away and defensive ability. Already plays in an uptempo system so he should be in good shape to run.

Exactly how many boards predicted Belinelli last year? Seemed few if any predicted it either on the basis of talent with that slot in the draft or pressing team need.

My realistic draft scenario would be for the Warriors to pick up one of Donte Greene, Joe Alexander, Darrell Arthur, Mareese Speights. Someone around the draft slot that we’re projected to be in.

We resign Monta, 5/55 sounds good and for AB, 5/45.

Baron realizes no one will pay him the 5/75 he wants. He doesn’t exercise his ETO and grudgingly takes his 18.5M (boo-hoo).

I believe Baron’s maximum value will come before the trade deadline next season. That’s when borderline playoff teams should be lining up for Baron’s services. Add in a young player, expiring contract and a first and a deal should get done. We should definitely get more than the crap that Sacramento got back for Bibby.

NBA has a nice draft blog going on HERE.

They have an interview with Jonathon Givony of DraftExpress.

NBA.com: At the lottery, a team executive told us that one of the keys to the draft is knowing where the drop-offs are. Clearly, there’s a drop-off after the top two picks, but where is the next one?

Givony: Between five and six. Three, four and five are solid. You’ve got Brook Lopez, Jerryd Bayless and O.J. Mayo. And then there’s a drop-off again, I think. With Eric Gordon and Danilo Gallinari, there are some question marks there. I love Gallinari, but people have taken a step back due to the lack of success of prospects like Andrea Bargnani, Darko Milicic, and Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

NBA.com: And the next drop-off after that?

Givony: Probably after 12 or 13. Right after D.J. Augustin and Russell Westbrook, there seems to be a drop-off right there, where you start looking at a Donte Greene, a Joe Alexander … and it’s a total crapshoot.

Link can be found HERE.

I like the info on Shan Foster who I liked this season. He’d be a nice steal in the second round if he can turn into a Kyle Korver-esque role playing sharpshooter. Good shooters can always find a home on any team. He also comments on how Robin Lopez may be the best shotblocker of the draft.

Found this on Chad Ford’s Insider page:

Could the Warriors try and trade for Detroit’s First pick?

Another bad one floating around the Internet has the Pistons promising to take Indiana’s D.J. White with the 29th pick. Pistons president Joe Dumars isn’t in Orlando, but I contacted him via e-mail and he said the rumor is totally untrue. The Pistons are bringing in a number of players, haven’t committed to anyone and are even looking at possibly moving their first for a couple of second-round picks.

With our lack of shotblocking, would Omer Asik be a good selection?

The Knicks may actually not take Danilo Gallinari:

A Suns source swore to me Tuesday night that when they showed D’Antoni tape of Gallinari during the year, he wasn’t a fan.

“Mike said he’s just not sure the kid has what it takes to make it in the NBA,” the source said. “He said he’d be very nervous picking him in the mid-first round. I doubt he’s become converted since he joined the Knicks.”

Another source made an even more compelling argument: “Whether Mike loves him or hates him, Donnie Walsh is making this pick. He’s the guy who has to take the heat and he’s not going to pass that decision on to anyone else. What matters most is whether Donnie likes him.”

Some guys in the Orlando Pre-Draft camp that could slip to the Warriors with the 49th overall pick: Ty Lawson, DeVon Hardin, Trent Plaisted, Wayne Ellington, Mario Chalmers, Keith Brumbaugh, Davon Jefferson, Luc Richard Mbah A Moute, Joey Dorsey, Shan Foster and John Riek.

What is interesting about this is that since this year’s draft is so deep with talent, first round guys could fall into the late 30’s-mid 40’s. Look for a quality selection when the Warriors pick, and hopefully not another pre-season cut.

NBADRAFT.NET has a recap of Day one HERE

The guy I’m looking at is Donte Greene and wondering how the Warriors would let him slip by. Seems like an ideal fit.

But I’m also a proponent of the second round being a good spot to pick up solid talent, which I’ve been pretty wrong on! Sigh .. remember Guillermo Diaz?

the warriors have a shot at both love or rush with their first pick. if the bobcats take jordan at 9, to help slide okafor to the 4 , then love could fall past new jersey who could take either arthur or green. at this point it would be interesting to see if the warriors could trade into the first round at around 24 to land cdr/lawson/chalmers. a trade of harrington and 2nd rd to seattle for wilcox, wilkins, 24th pick might make sense for both. if seattle landed bayless at 4 they would lose the need for wilkins with durant, watson, ridnour in the backcourt. al would still be productive IF he were even their sixth man behind collison/green at 4. the sonics would have roughly 10 mil under the cap to go after fa’s/sign bayless and 2nd rounder. for the w’s they get the same yrs contract wise from wilcox and a cheaper version of barnes in wilkins. theyd have 9 mil to sign azu and go after duhon/pargo before re upping beans and ellis.

baron, ellis, jax, wilcox, biedrins
bench love, duhon, azu, wright, wilkins, cdr, belli, perovic

obviously there are a million things that can and will happen between now and the draft and after the draft. im just hoping mullin does something to change it up a bit without getting rid of our current style.

I don’t know if the Warriors are still drafting players with Nellie in mind or they’re building up for the future with or without Nellie. But, Nelli likes to have a power forward that can slide in and out of the 4 and 5 to go big or small. Wilcox is listed at forward-center and can do better than Harrington. I don’t think Love’s anchored legs would be a fit in Nellie’s system, plus he’d be moving around a lot between 4 and 5 and counted on to rebound and defend consistently. This is a tall order for a rookie, since its hard to see him doing either.