Warriors select Jordan Poole with No. 28 pick

The Golden State Warriors drafted University of Michigan guard Jordan Poole with the No. 28 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

It’s not particularly shocking that the Warriors opted for a good shooter with their pick, given their lack of shooting depth this year, and the fact that they’ll be without Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant for most of, if not all of the coming season.

In his second and final year at Michigan, Poole shot 36.9% from deep, and 83.3% from the free throw line. He averaged 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

Here’s a breakdown of some of Poole’s strengths and weaknesses, courtesy of BT Powerhouse.

As mentioned, Poole’s college numbers were never otherworldly, but he did show some tantalizing skills with the Wolverines. In particular, his ability to shoot from deep, confidence with the ball, and handle were all impressive. Poole shot 36.9 percent from three-point range last season, 83.3 percent from the charity stripe, and had a really good turnover rate. . .

. . . But even if Poole has a lot of potential, he has some major concerns as well. To start, he struggled a lot with shot selection and never really stood out as a passer. Considering that he would likely be asked to take just a few shots a game and primarily facilitate at the next level early on, those aren’t encouraging issues to have as he prepares for the NBA.

Poole was certainly a reach if you’re a fan of mock drafts. According to HoopsHype’s big board, which aggregates numerous boards and mock drafts, Poole was the 53rd best prospect in the draft. He went No. 41 on The Athletic’s mock, and No. 47 in The Ringer’s. 538 did not have Poole in their top 50.

He was also a slightly surprising pick, as talents such as Bol Bol, Kevin Porter Jr., Keldon Johnson, Carsen Edwards, and KZ Okpala were still on the board.

That’s not to say it’s a bad pick. Not at all. In fact, our own Charlie Stanton laid out the case for drafting Poole earlier in the year:

Defense: At 6-5, Poole is a flexible defender and currently plays on a Michigan team that boasts the best defensive efficiency in the country. He has the ability to guard the 1 or 2. Compare Poole to Quinn Cook. We love Quinn Cook’s offensive firepower, but his defensive flexibility leaves much to be desired. Poole has the height to defend in the NBA.