Golden State Warriors 1st Round Draft History and Just My Imagination
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 12:20 AM PDT
in History
85 comments
What if the Warriors had a string of PERFECT drafts with their 1st round picks during the Chris Cohan era of prime suckitude? What if there were no busts and only draft delights for this franchise since Cohan sued his way into owning it back in 1993?
What if this guy never owned the Dubs? [via images.forbes.com]
Why am I so scarred to look up how little my basketball card collection is worth? What can possibly be any better than what lies after the jump?
1994
With the 16th pick in the 1994 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Clifford Rozier.
Rozier was out of the league within 4 season and was the first bust of the Cohan era. Also see We Like Obscure NBA Players: Clifford Rozier [MVN]
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Wesley Person (#23).
Just like his brother Chuck, Wesley Person was a 3-point assasin. Over the course of his 11 year career he shot 41.8% from downtown. Another good option would have been Aaron McKie (#17). McKie was a solid all-around player and a nice defender for nearly a decade. He even managed to collect the 6th Man of the Year trophy for the 2000-2001 season. The key here is that both of these guys actually stuck in the league past their 25th birthday.
1995
With the 1st pick in the 1995 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Joe Smith.
via i16.ebayimg.com
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Kevin Garnett (#5).
via mlb.imageg.net
I don't think much needs to be said about K to the G aside from... BRING KG TO THE BAY!
Rasheed Wallace (#4), Antonio McDyess (#2), Jerry Stackhouse (#3), Michael Finley (#21) ain't no joke either. You could even argue Kurt Thomas (#10) and Brent Barry (#15) has better NBA careers than Ordinary Joe.
1996
With the 11th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Todd Fuller.
You laugh now, but how many people can tell their kids they got drafted ahead of Kobe Bryant?
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Kobe Bryant (#13).
Would the Warriors be in the 2009 NBA Finals if they drafted Kobe?
The list of who they passed on will make you cringe: Steve Nash (#15), Jermaine O'Neal (#17), Peja Stojakovic (#14), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (#20). Shoot I wouldn't be that upset if the Dubs took the Junk Yard Dog Jerome Williams, but TODD FULL-ER?
1997
With the 8th pick in the 1997 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Adonal Foyle.
via www.sportcardsandstuff.net
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Tracy McGrady (#9).
This last one just looks goofy.
Would the Warriors be 1st round virgins from 1997-present?
Putting aside the fact that their draft spot is not independent of who they drafted the year before, do you realize the Warriors could have had a legendary trio of KG-Kobe-TMac?
Excuse me while I jump off the Bay Bridge...
1998
With the 5th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Vince Carter. Then they immediately trade him to the Toronto Raptors for Antawn Jamison (#4).
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Dirk Nowitzki (#9).
There's nothing wrong with the Jamison-Vinsanity swap and the Dirk pick via heist of the Milwaukee Bucks by Don Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks was pure (shocking) genius, so I don't fault Gary St. Jean and company one bit for this one. Still having an MVP on the Warriors would make this draft a little more perfect.
via a.espncdn.com
Paul Pierece at #10 ain't too bad either.
1999
With the 21st pick in the 1999 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Jeff Foster. Then they immediately traded him to the Pacers for #26 pick Vonteego Cummings and a future first-round draft pick.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Andrei Kirilenko (#24).
I hope he's grabbing a rebound, not taking a shot here.
2000
The Warriors traded their pick pre-draft to the Magic. The Magic ended up taking Mike Miller with the 5th overall pick. It must be noted that with the 55th pick the Golden State Warriors selected the incomparable... Chris Porter.
Man I loved this guy's hair.
2001
With the 5th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Jason Richardson.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Gilbert Arenas (#31).
Don't get me wrong. I love that J-Rich pick, but what would have happened if the Warriors had Agent Zero on contract beyond his sophomore season? It wouldn't matter that Cohan couldn't look him in the eye.
Hey even better- what if the Warriors actually kept both J-Rich and Arenas?
Remember this?
With the 14th pick in the 2001 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Troy Murphy.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Tony Parker (#28).
Notice any uncanny resemblance to a current Warrior combo guard?
Still this was easily Gary St. Jean's one shining moment as GM of the Warriors: J-Rich, T-Murph, and Arenas. Simply amazing.
2002
With the 3rd pick in the 2002 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Mike Dunleavy Jr.
I bet Rick Barry didn't find this amusing.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Amare Stoudemire (#9).
Well I guess there would be no Funleavy Foto Fun. That wouldn't be any fun now, would it?
The Dubs also passed on Caron Butler (#10), Nene Hilario (#7), Drew Gooden (#4)
With the #16 pick in the 2002 NBA Draft the Warriors selected... Jiri Welsch (via trade with the 76ers).
FUTURE (not so) PERFECT.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Carlos Boozer (#35).
Amare and Boozer wouldn't been NASTY. Who cares if they don't play any D?
2003
With the 11th pick in the 2003 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Mickael Pietrus.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected David West (#18).
via i3.ebayimg.com
Josh Howard (#29) a superior wing player to MP2 would have been nice too. But remember none of these guys have MP2's goofiness.
2004
With the 11th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Andris Biedrins.
Loading up on hair gel was a good move.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Josh Smith (#17).
via i7.ebayimg.com
This draft actually went had some nice late picks: Al Jefferson (#15), Jameer Nelson (#20), Kevin Martin (#26), Anderson Varejao (#31), and Trevor Ariza (#44).
2005
With the 9th pick in the 2005 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Ike Diogu.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Danny Granger (#17).
Marlon Wayans!
Seriously how did Granger slip so far in this draft? Other people of note who the Warriors passed on in the 1st round: Andrew Bynum (#9), Hakim Warrick (#19), Nate Robinson (#21), Jason Maxiell (#26), Linas Kleiza (#2 7), David Lee (#30). Redemption of course came later on in the second round at pick #40 with a guy by the name of Monta Ellis.
2006
With the 9th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Patrick O'Bryant.
How about we "throwback" this pick instead?
via i13.ebayimg.com
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Rajon Rondo (#21).
This was a bad, bad draft.
2007
With the 8th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Brandan Wright (via trade with Charlotte Bobcats).
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Joakim Noah (#9).
With the 18th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Marco Belinelli.
via i1.ebayimg.com
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Ramon Sessions (#56).
Some of the other names the Warriors passed on include Thaddeus Young (#12), Al Thornton (#14), Rodney Stuckey (#15), Wilson Chandler (#23), Rudy Fernandez (#24), Aaron Brooks (#26), Carl Landry (#31), Glen Davis (#35), and Marc Gasol (#48).
The jury's still out on all of these draft picks and Wright could be better than Noah when it's all said and done, but as of right now the 2007 Warriors draft class isn't looking very impressive. We shall see soon enough.
2008
With the 14th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors selected... Anthony Randolph.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected Patrick Ewing (#43).
Oh I missed the "Jr" part on this Patrick Chewing. Seriously though, this pick is looking real good right now.
So here's how THE PERFECT WARRIORS 1st Round NBA DRAFT HISTORY over the Cohan years would look:
- 1994: Wesley Person
- 1995: Kevin Garnett
- 1996: Kobe Bryant
- 1997: Tracy McGrady
- 1998: Dirk Nowitzki
- 1999: Andrei Kirilenko
- 2001: Gilbert Arenas and Tony Parker
- 2002: Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer
- 2003: David West
- 2004: Josh Smith
- 2005: Danny Granger
- 2006: Rajon Rondo
- 2007: Joakim Noah and Ramon Sessions
Now obviously no one's going to have a perfect draft history (not even Nellie or Isiah Thomas- ESPN), but all those misses over the years... ouch.
Taking you back... way back... The Temptations- "Just My Imagination". For more draft day reflection check out: Nellie Knows NBA Draft: The Warriors and Mavericks Years. Head on over to NBADraft.net's History section for endless hours of draft fun too.
2009
With the 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft the Golden State Warriors select... ______________________.
IMAGINE if the Warriors selected ______________________.
Fill in the blanks in the comments.
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Question
With the “perfect picks” are the Warriors still going to trade away all these players in their prime (or before it) like they did with Richmond, Hardaway, Gatling, Webber, Sprewell, Jamison, J-Rich, Arenas (not traded, but still), and Murphy, not to mention Ellis, Wright, and Randolph, like some of the crazy trade scenarios being thrown up will have you believe, and get nothing back (with exception of Murphy)?
by philthiest on Jun 22, 2009 12:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ha, Chris Gatling. Good old Metal-head. They should have rid themselves of Sprewell and kept Hardaway and Gatling. And Nellie at least readily admits his mistake in trading Mitch.
And it can be argued they got… something for J-Rich.
But, yes, the front office is run by half-tards. I like your sense of humor about this.
Tim "Legs" Legler!
by Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 12:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They should have kept Sprewell
And gotten rid of Carlesimo. Sprewell was a stud, easily one of the top 3 shooting guards in the league when he was with the W’s.
Fun fact:
PJ Carlesimo’s career NBA record before the Choke: 137-109. After the Choke: 67-187.
Latrell Sprewell’s teams were 294-257 (and also 33-25 in the playoffs) After the Choke.
by philthiest on Jun 22, 2009 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I won’t deny Sprewell having game. Isn’t he the last all-star the warriors had? But you mentioned it. The guy chokes people.
Although, it’s easy to imagine Carlesimo forgetting he looks like a high school librarian and getting somewhere up in Latrell Sprewell’s chest to scold him on his passing. All the same.
Tim "Legs" Legler!
by Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Nellie at least readily admits his mistake in trading Mitch.
Nellie also admitted last season that the team was better without J-Rich and he missed him even though their win total was higher.
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kobe
Without a doubt.
Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson, or Tyreke Evans. A Warrior in 09.
With the 6th Pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the SF Giants pick Donovan Tate.
Conductor of the We're Back Warrior Movement!
by ejdacanay on Jun 22, 2009 12:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
You mention Al Thornton as one of the players we passed up...
But I think Clipper Steve breaks it down pretty eloquently why we should be glad to don’t have him.
The NBA’s LEAST productive player? That’s quite a title to hold down. I’m not saying he doesn’t have the skill or potential, but it might be too early to write off Bellinelli or Wright for him.
On the other hand, I do believe Ramon Sessions would have been a better pick up then Marco.
Noah instead of Wright? You must be out of your mind. Sure the guy put up great numbers and in the playoff series against the Celtics, but his annoying character and immature make me want to puke at the thought of having him on our team.
BTW, if we had Patrick Chewing to coach Foyle back when he first got drafted, Foyle would be a better Yao and Dwight. Trust me. In fact, go holler at Zorgon for more science on that one.
We still believe!!
Follow me on Twitter! Username - RDizzleGSoM
by R Dizzle on Jun 22, 2009 12:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
here's that link
We still believe!!
Follow me on Twitter! Username - RDizzleGSoM
by R Dizzle on Jun 22, 2009 12:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Todd Fuller over Kobe, thats definately one to tell the kids. Good job Cohan.
We be doin' it CROOKLYN style!!!!!
by LighTz707OuT on Jun 22, 2009 12:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
lol @ the votes not for Kobe or KG
Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson, or Tyreke Evans. A Warrior in 09.
With the 6th Pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the SF Giants pick Donovan Tate.
Conductor of the We're Back Warrior Movement!
by ejdacanay on Jun 22, 2009 12:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
As a voter for one of the other scenarios, I voted that way because high school to the pros was such an uncharted path back then I’m not particularly upset about not picking those guys. Granted, I’m bitter at who we DID pick in the place, but not so angry about passing those guys up. I’m just overall angrier about the Dunleavy pick. God he sucked. So did Welsch.
by Missing Barry on Jun 22, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I see what you mean, but at the same time, if we don’t take Welsch, there is no way we take Boozer. That’s like a 20 pick difference. We very likely would have taken one of the other 19 guys in between, and that guy still wouldn’t have done anything. And Dunleavy to Stoudemire is six picks. Imagine if you had the 3rd pick last year, and instead of Mayo you take…DJ Augustin? I’m not knocking Augustin, I’m just saying, that’s not the person you would likely substitute if you don’t take Mayo. It would probably be Love/Westbrook.
It is rare when an NBA team drafting high selects a person much higher than their “projected” status, because they will get absolutely killed for it around the league and by their fanbase, as we saw last year with Jason Thompson (Pick was graded an “F” by the fans during the ESPN draft).
The court of public opinion, though it may go against what the management thinks, has a lot of power. It’s easy to say, they should have picked that other guy 6 picks down, but if you put it in context, that is a much riskier pick, even though it is in the same slot. If you miss on a guy that you picked 6 picks too high, fans will be angry that you didn’t do what was expected of you, and that could be a career ender right there. If you hit on that guy, hindsight bias kicks in and everyone forgets Thompson was projected to go that low anyway. That is a lot of pressure that us fans watching the draft do not have to go through. You could pick the safe guy, miss, but only be questioned retroactively (like now), or you could pick the risky guy and be immediately questioned before the guy ever plays a game.
I guarantee you that when the Clippers pick Blake Griffin, they will be applauded. I guarantee you that if they were to pick Brandon Jennings, the fans would be extremely pissed. In a few years, if Jennings excels and Griffin is out of the league, they won’t get anything extra from the fans. But if Griffin excels and Jennings is out of the league, the frustration with that pick will only intensify. Eventually, the projections will be forgotten.
by belilaugh on Jun 22, 2009 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kobe on the other hand, was around the range of Fuller, as was T-Mac to Foyle. That’s why I see those two as the biggest blunders. Because we had a realistic shot at taking either.
by belilaugh on Jun 22, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, Fuller was pretty bad. And I’m not going to say my anger over the past is the least bit rational…it just explains my voting patterns.
by Missing Barry on Jun 22, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i can understand not picking kobe.
If i remember he had an attitude problem and said he only wanted to play for lakers? but Todd fuler was a walking stiff and we knew that entering draft. I was 11 and i knew he was a stiff. Its not just passing on kobe, its passing on peja , steve nash, jermaine oneal, BIG z…. hey, even vitaly potapenko would have been immensely better! but Todd Fuller, i mean thats like someone taking conor achtley or rob kurz in lottery now
by tafkasam on Jul 19, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seeing Anthony Randolph there
eventually other teams will look back and make posts like this one, all trying to figure out how he dropped to No. 14
Keep him at all costs!
And i didn’t vote for Kobe because he specifically said he did not want and would not play for the warriors. I picked Joe…because man…that was the NUMBER ONE PICK…hurts.
by Blue and Yellow on Jun 22, 2009 12:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
And i didn’t vote for Kobe because he specifically said he did not want and would not play for the warriors.
I don’t remember that, link? Also did he say he wouldn’t play for the Hornets? I thought LA/West just really liked him, but a friend of mine said the other day that Kobe Eli Manninged his way to the Lakers. Anyone recall?
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 22, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
joakim noah?
id much rather have brandan wright….
Gerald Madkins
by gorillas on Jun 22, 2009 1:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not to mention, Todd Fuller was also taken ahead of Steve Nash, Peja, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Jermaine O’Neal.
We be doin' it CROOKLYN style!!!!!
by LighTz707OuT on Jun 22, 2009 1:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nash was someone I know a lot of Bay Area fans really liked, I don’t remember Kobe ever really being discussed much.
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 22, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t remember all the teams on his “I’ll just go to Europe if they draft me” list, but I do believe the Warriors were one.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 7:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Smith was a horrible pick AND a number one. So I understand how that one stings. It’s like the warriors front office hates basketball fans.
Maybe suffering on a wide-scale is the only way Cohan can get a boner.
Tim "Legs" Legler!
by Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 1:03 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
At the time, people were not down on Smith. Hindsight makes him a “horrible pick” but he appeared to be the real deal before the draft and played well his first season here as well. At the end of his rookie year, it was not clear that Garnett was a better player still.
I think to be a genuinely horrible pick, there has to be some reason why the pick made no sense at the time, a reason than a sane person should have known better. That was true with Fuller, who aspired to journeyman as his peak. It wasn’t true with Smith.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very true. The other thing was Smith was only a few months older than Kevin Garnett.
Who would you take the big time young college player or the player straight out of high school around the same age who supposedly didn’t have the SAT scores to get into college? (KG later qualified with high enough SAT scores.)
This was an era where players just weren’t drafted straight out of high school. KG’s success really kicked things off.
No one was doubting the Joe Smith pick at the time or even after his first 2 seasons in the league. Legions of people were very critical of the KG pick because he was the first high schooler taken in the first round since Moses Malone (I believe).
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shawn Kemp was sort of a straight from HS player. He enrolled in a JC but was never on their active roster and entered the draft with only HS experience.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good one. Pre-twinkie Shawn Kemp was thrilling to watch. His dunks were just as powerful as Amare Stoudemire’s, but he had a little more flight to him.
I feel like he sort of flew under the radar and there wasn’t nearly as much “controversy” about him not playing college ball like there was about KG back then. My hoops memory could be a little cloudy though.
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And those SHOES!
Chris Cohan and Robert Rowell? Oh no hide the children!
by Nuck Chorris on Jun 22, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kemp was drafted mid 1st round (taken by Seattle with a pick we sent their way for Alton Lister if memory serves). Mid 1st rounders don’t generate as much controversy as a guy taken near the top of the lottery. Also, his situation was sort of weird in that he was a year removed from HS but it looked like he’d have real trouble ever being eligible to play college ball. The controversy was more about his inability to get into school and with his letter of intent with Kentucky who went on probation when he signed out of HS.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
HAHA. Alton Lister for Shawn Kemp.
Those guys are intwined. (YouTube)
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahaahaa
thats exactly what i was thinking.
We be doin' it CROOKLYN style!!!!!
by LighTz707OuT on Jun 22, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, I agree with you. We have the privilege of hindsight. I remember the KNBR arguments over taking Stackhouse or Smith, and it seemed like those guys were unquestionably one and two. However, what makes Joe Smith resonate with fans is that he was the number one pick, and the warriors haven’t had one since. The poll asked for the biggest miss, and The warriors literally had the pick of the litter. Oh, and we would have had KG.
But, I voted Dunleavy. Mostly because of the point you made. Didn’t make sense.
Tim "Legs" Legler!
by Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t forget about McDyess. I was all about drafting McDyess that year, I think it was a 4 or 5 way battle for the top pick that year with ’Sheed and KG kinda in the mix to some degree.
I also voted Dunleavy because I almost smashed the TV the moment they made the pick and never really got over that feeling until the trade.
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 22, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, who are the two posters who voted “Biedrins over Josh Smith”?
I need to have a word with you.
Thing 1
by Sleepy Freud on Jun 22, 2009 5:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Me too
I would rather have Biedrins than Smith
Oakland Raiders Fan
Golden State Warriors Fan
San Francisco Giants Fan
San Jose Sharks Fan
MMA Fan
USC Trojan Fan
by i love sports101 on Jun 22, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t.
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 22, 2009 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can think of one high profile GSoMer…
Thing 2
by olympicmike on Jun 23, 2009 1:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In fairness … Saying you’d prefer JSmooth to Biedrins is one thing. Saying Biedrins at #11 was the Warriors’ biggest draft blunder of the past 15 years is quite another. Five votes!!!
Thing 1
by Sleepy Freud on Jun 23, 2009 5:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can do this with every team in the league. Its the nature of looking
back at any draft. Every team chooses the wrong guy. Also,,,, we drafted Gibert Arenas so I don’t know why he is on this list.
by Dungeness Crab Dribble on Jun 22, 2009 8:56 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
It was so stupid we passed on Gilbert… LOL… we drafted him so why was that even mentioned?
A Sonics fan without a team.. Though I'm auditioning GS Warriors this season.
by mcwalter44 on Jun 22, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Read to Achieve Indeed
But I’m going to assume that those two guys still won’t get it.
Don’t get me wrong. I love that J-Rich pick, but what would have happened if the Warriors had Agent Zero on contract beyond his sophomore season? It wouldn’t matter that Cohan couldn’t look him in the eye.
Hey even better- what if the Warriors actually kept both J-Rich and Arenas?
Dungeneess Crab Dribble and mcwalter44, let me introduce you to the concept of NBA Rookie contracts.
(a) Each Rookie Scale Contract between a Team and a First Round Pick shall cover a period of two (2) Seasons, but shall have an Option in favor of the Team for the player’s third Season and a second Option in favor of the Team for the player’s fourth Season.
First Round draft pick = more money and longer contract.
Whereas, Gibert Arenas was a 2nd round pick, received MUCH less money and was only on contract with the Warriors for 2 years. Depending on where you get drafted, you get more money and longer contract.
Therefore, IF we had chosen Gilbert Arenas in the 1st round instead of J-Rich (which is what is being said there) we would have had Agent Zero longer. Notice the whole piece is about hypothetical situations.
Thus, ask yourself, who would you rather have for 4 years coming into the league – JRich or Arenas?
Read to achieve my friends!
We still believe!!
Follow me on Twitter! Username - RDizzleGSoM
by R Dizzle on Jun 22, 2009 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also,,,, we drafted Gibert Arenas so I don’t know why he is on this list.
Notice the title of the post: Golden State Warriors 1st Round Draft History and Just My Imagination
And the first question: What if the Warriors had a string of PERFECT drafts with their 1st round picks during the Chris Cohan era of prime suckitude?
Please read before posting.
(Gilbert Arenas was a 2nd round pick in case you didn’t know)
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course, if the Warriors had managed to sign Arenas as a second rounder to a three year deal initially (or gotten team options), it would have been moot as they’d have had his full Bird rights and Wash wouldn’t have had the outbid opportunity. Not to say that Arenas would have accepted a 3 year deal initially. For the 2nd rounders, being locked in for 3 years at the league min isn’t necessarily better than a shorter deal. If they do well, they’ll get a raise (a substantial one even if it’s still less than the MLE) sooner. If they’re having a hard time sticking in the league after two years, while a guaranteed 3rd is nice, most of those guys can make a living, and a pretty good one, playing in Europe.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well as long as the concept is the Warriors drafting perfectly, I see no reason we can’t just assume we lock Gilbert up long term on his first contract and get both of them.
by Missing Barry on Jun 22, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh right! Yeah alot of teams draft
2nd round talent int he 1st round. Great logic drizzle! Sure fire way to get fired as a GM. Hey lets surprise everyone and draft a 2nd round pcik with our lottery pick. Your brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Dungeness Crab Dribble on Jun 22, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Reading the intial post FAIL:
Oh right! Yeah alot of teams draft 2nd round talent int he 1st round. Great logic drizzle! Sure fire way to get fired as a GM. Hey lets surprise everyone and draft a 2nd round pcik with our lottery pick.
I would really suggest that you go back and read Atma’s post and R. Dizzle’s reply before you decide what either actually said. It does not appear that you did either.
Your brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is no longer irony when someone insults (even sarcastically) the intelligence of another poster while simultaneously demonstrating that he himself doesn’t know some rather basic rules of English grammar. If you’re going to insult someone’s intelligence, don’t simultaneously put on display your own failings.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
You never cease to amaze me with your ridiculous comments. Before you continue, work on your grammar and spelling that way you can actually sound moderately (used very loosely) intelligent.
The whole point of the article was “What if…” so yes, 2nd round talent in the 1st round is a possibility when considered “what if…”
Your original statement was
Also,,,, we drafted Gibert Arenas so I don’t know why he is on this list.
I just told you why he was on the list.
We still believe!!
Follow me on Twitter! Username - RDizzleGSoM
by R Dizzle on Jun 22, 2009 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
YEA
Clearly shows that he is wearing a Warriors Jersey…..
we either draft busts, or ewe draft great players but never give them time in a warriors Uniform… always trading them away.
Gotta love the Bay Area drama ;)
by JayFerg on Jun 22, 2009 9:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
this could be one of the best posts i’ve ever read. this pretty much sums up the warriors organization in a nut shell. they pick busts over potential. The more that I look at this post, the more it pisses me off, seeing the guys we “could” of had…
by Young Moolah on Jun 22, 2009 10:35 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Should I weigh the fail of the pick or the damage done to the team in comparison to the success of the other player (s)?
Chris Cohan and Robert Rowell? Oh no hide the children!
by Nuck Chorris on Jun 22, 2009 10:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I love the Dun card with Rick Barry in the background...
Ghost of valuable players past.
by Aisander D on Jun 22, 2009 11:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So I knew it was bad, but not THIS bad. Technically, the Warriors should just be forfeiting their picks every year, cuz they’re just paying bad players TONS of money to suck.
by aBulldog on Jun 22, 2009 11:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think...
…there’s quite a few flaws on that perfect draft list. Mainly, I see no compelling evidence Ramon Sessions is going to be worth all the brewhaha, albeit possible. I also think it’s amusing to read the words “IMAGINE if we’d drafted Joakim Noah!” Just cause I bet that’s not something a ton of NBA fans will find themselves saying through the years.
Seems like I’m always clashing up against these main page posts when it comes to Biedrins. I have no interest in taking Josh Smith at the expense of AB. I don’t see the value of a power forward who can’t board (in fact, in three of his NBA seasons he’s posted a worse per 36 rebound rate than Brandan Wright had last year, a rebounding rate which earned him much scorn around here. This feels like little more than that “greener grass” thing people are always talking about. Considering how much Smith is making, and looking at Wright’s adjusted numbers versus Smith’s, I’m not even sure I could make that compelling a case that I’d swap them outright. It wouldn’t help us win. Might fill more seats, I grant you that.
He’s also less efficient on offense than AB by a mile, and he’s a crappy shooter from long range, which further lessens his value compared to a guy who’s as selective as Andris is. There’s absolutely no benefit to Josh Smith being able to hit a 15 footer Andris can’t if he’s going to shoot at such low percentages for his position.
by Zack Vank on Jun 22, 2009 11:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry! I forgot to answer...
…the worst pick in retrospect is Fuller over Kobe. I don’t know that there’s ever been a bigger disparity between an available player and a selected player like that. I’d rather have Sam Bowie than Todd Fuller.
In terms of the worst decision at the time, that’s harder to say… I’d probably go with Joe Smith, simply because the letdown from having that #1 pick was so tremendous.
by Zack Vank on Jun 22, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fuller over Kobe sticks out in my mind because it was clear at the time that Fuller was more than likely a stiff. He was a ‘need’ pick that wasn’t likley to ever fill the need. I’d put the POB over anyone pretty high for exactly the same reason.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
IIRC Fuller was a 20/10 guy coming out of the ACC, a good conference at the time – he and Smith were both considered “safe” picks & neither was expected to turn the league on end … picking HS players back then was not as readily accepted, particularly by an organization picking while still in the wake of having gotten burned by the immaturity of Chris Washburn (albeit not the same situation). I am certain I am the only GSW fan happy we didn’t end up with Kobe, and honestly doubt he would have played here in any case considering how he maneuvered around his draft …
by hardcore on Jun 22, 2009 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I remember the stories about Fuller at the time saying “he’s solid” and suggested that he’s be that solid backup center. I remember vividly SIs line about Joe Smith was that he’d “lock down the PF for the Warriors for years to come”. I think that some thought that he could become a real genuine star.
by jae on Jun 22, 2009 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Warrior Picks
1 Biedrins wasn’t that bad a pick for #11. The only bigs that are better is Jefferson and Smith. A lot of other teams blew off these picks too.
2. Picking Gilbert Arenas on the second was actually brilliant. What sucked was that the management didn’t understand how good he was until it was too late. They could have extended his contract after his first year.
3. 2005 shouldn’t be Ike Diogu vs Danny Granger. Granger is a good player but he would not make the Warriors a contender. The pick after Diogu was Andrew Bynum – the dominant center they’ve looking for 25 years – who could have put them in the playoff for the next 10 years.
by Big Eddie on Jun 22, 2009 11:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If you extend the time frame back the last 20 years (as an ESPN article did), the Warriors have been more successful drafters than most other franchises. The problem is those picks are named Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Lattrell Sprewell, etc. In other words, good picks that produce, just most of that production is not for the Warriors…
by Missing Barry on Jun 22, 2009 12:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
agreed, but don't try to tell drizzle and his sidekick jae, aka mini me.
by Dungeness Crab Dribble on Jun 22, 2009 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have lost your mind, DCD.
But about that ESPN Insider article, D.R.A.F.T. Initiative: The Warriors’ way, does claim that we have made great draft choices over the last 20 years.
The NBA teams that have drafted well over the past 20 years and won because of it have several common traits: a definitive style of play, a stable front office and patient ownership.
The Golden State Warriors offer evidence of what you get when only a definitive style of play prevails. First of all, there isn’t that much winning, no matter how exciting the style.
Which is the exact problem – ISN’T THAT MUCH WINNING.
The result is almost cruel for its fan base: Five former Warriors played in the 1997 All-Star game. Four of them — Mitch Richmond, Latrell Sprewell, Tim Hardaway and Chris Webber — had been drafted by Golden State. Actual Warriors All-Stars gained from dealing the five?
None.
All Stars or not, it doesn’t really matter when we trade them away for nothing productive.
Either way, you’re right, over the last 20 years, we drafted well – but over the Cohan era, it sure as hell does not look like we did – which was what this was about…
And the main take home point from the ESPN article,
The Warriors have had a particularly hard time standing pat. The blame ultimately lands on owner Cohan, who bought controlling interest in the team in 1994 and has presided over nine coaching changes in 15 seasons.
Again, what this article by AB1 is about. But you knew that didn’t you, Dungeness? You sure don’t need me, R DIZZLE or my sidekick jae (where did you possibly get this from? He knows more than me…), to point this out seeing as though, as you so eloquently put it,
Your brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We still believe!!
Follow me on Twitter! Username - RDizzleGSoM
by R Dizzle on Jun 22, 2009 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
By the way
That was a terrible article by Ric Bucher in a lineup of excellent D.R.A.F.T. pieces. More on that later.
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 6:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How so
Are you saying the past 20 years haven’t been marked by either:
1. Good players who we traded before or during their prime, for what amounted to pennies on the dollar
2. Big time busts.
by philthiest on Jun 22, 2009 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No doubt, but that article is about 5 years too late and the analysis in it is pretty haphazard and shoddy.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the #1 and #2 which you pointed out, so I’m not so sure Bucher deserves much credit for that.
by Atma Brother ONE on Jun 22, 2009 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
I just hope that we learn from our history, and not give up on certain guys too soon, and trade them for way below what they are actually worth.
by philthiest on Jun 22, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
better than waiting too long and giving them extensions that are too big, too long and last until they are well into their declining years.
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 22, 2009 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think your just bitter about being called out earlier.
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 22, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea
What if, What if, What if. Seems to me thats all we can say when that jackass cohan is in charge.
Is it just me, or dont u guys think Marco is good??! Come on now guys some of you guys make it seem that hes a bust. In my regards Rocky did fairly well last season on a couple wins by himself and Jack…but again let me know about ur guys’ decision.
{~R.i.p Sean Taylor #21~}
by Dubz50 on Jun 22, 2009 12:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Also..
LitzOut..ur right. I wonder how it feels telling some one, i picked todd fuller over Kobe. ahaha
{~R.i.p Sean Taylor #21~}
by Dubz50 on Jun 22, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Marco Polo
Is it just me, or dont u guys think Marco is good??!
He is good…. I think if we dont have a set PG by start of season, Marco should get a shot at it…. i mean what harm is it going to do?
Gotta love the Bay Area drama ;)
by JayFerg on Jun 22, 2009 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Get a load of the “read more” section on this post.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jun 23, 2009 12:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
wow
Dirk’s hair/earing. just wow.
Thing A
by sam23 on Jun 23, 2009 12:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Got linked on TrueHoop ESPN
We still believe!!
Follow me on Twitter! Username - RDizzleGSoM
by R Dizzle on Jun 23, 2009 11:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry ppl
But we couldn’t keep VC. You could blame the C-Webb trade for it, but we could had Kobe that season. However, we took the smartest nba bust in history of the NBA. haha That goes for broke back too. We could had him too. Imagine Spree, Kobe and Tmac on the same team. All of them could handles, plays D and score at will. We would be killing everybody in the leagues. But since our management are mentality retarded. Oh well it was the past. We all moved on.
by warriorfan4life on Jun 23, 2009 8:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
“But since our management are mentality retarded.”
…
by Missing Barry on Jun 24, 2009 7:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
you know what I'm trying to say.
Our management are full of retard. They can’t drafts right or keep the stars player here.
by warriorfan4life on Jun 24, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
DANG!
WE COULDVE HAD A STARTING ALLSTAR LINE UP LIKE THIS
PG GILBERT ARENAS
SG KOBE BRYANT
SF ANTAWN JAMISON
PF AMARE STOUDEMIRE
C DIRK NOWITZKI
PIMP ITS ALL ON A B**** N***** - MAC DRE
by jandaman! on Jul 19, 2009 12:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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