A brief history of the second pick

We’re only a few weeks away from the 2020 NBA Draft, which means we’re only a few weeks away from the Golden State Warriors potentially drafting the highest they have since taking Joe Smith first in 1995.

The Warriors hold the second overall pick, and while there’s still a pretty decent chance that they end up trading it, for now we have to operate under the assumption that they’ll be making the selection.

So what can they expect? What better way to figure out than by using an extremely inexact science?

This draft class is considered very weak, but even weak drafts have stars that reveal themselves down the road. So let’s look at 20 years of No. 2 picks, to get a feel for what the Warriors might end up with. And we’ll rate each selection with how happy the Warriors would be to end up with a player of that caliber, on the following scale:

Out of their minds ecstatic
Thrilled
Very happy
Moderately happy
Tepid
Unhappy
Livid

Let’s go.

2019 — Ja Morant

Team: Memphis Grizzlies
NBA career: 1 year and counting
Career stats: 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game
Warriors rating: Thrilled

2018 — Marvin Bagley III

Team: Sacramento Kings
NBA career: 2 years and counting
Career stats: 14.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game
Warriors rating: Moderately happy, very happy if he stays healthy

2017 — Lonzo Ball

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
NBA career: 3 years and counting
Career stats: 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game
Warriors rating: Very happy

2016 — Brandon Ingram

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
NBA career: 4 years and counting
Career stats: 16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game
Warriors rating: Thrilled

2015 — D’Angelo Russell

Team: Los Angeles Lakers
NBA career: 5 years and counting
Career stats: 17.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game
Warriors rating: Moderately happy

2014 — Jabari Parker

Team: Milwaukee Bucks
NBA career: 6 years and counting
Career stats: 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game
Warriors rating: Unhappy

2013 — Victor Oladipo

Team: Orlando Magic
NBA career: 7 years and counting
Career stats: 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game
Warriors rating: Thrilled

2012 — Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Team: Charlotte Bobcats
NBA career: 8 years and counting
Career stats: 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game
Warriors rating: Unhappy

2011 — Derrick Williams

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
NBA career: 7 years
Career stats: 8.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game
Warriors rating: Livid

2010 — Evan Turner

Team: Philadelphia 76ers
NBA career: 10 years and counting
Career stats: 9.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game
Warriors rating: Tepid

2009 — Hasheem Thabeet

Team: Memphis Grizzlies
NBA career: 5 years
Career stats: 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.1 assists per game
Warriors rating: Livid

2008 — Michael Beasley

Team: Miami Heat
NBA career: 11 years
Career stats: 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game
Warriors rating: Tepid

2007 — Kevin Durant

Team: Seattle SuperSonics
NBA career: 13 years and counting
Career stats: 27.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game
Warriors rating: Out of their minds ecstatic

2006 — LaMarcus Aldridge

Team: Portland Trail Blazers
NBA career: 14 years and counting
Career stats: 19.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game
Warriors rating: Thrilled

2005 — Marvin Williams

Team: Atlanta Hawks
NBA career: 15 years
Career stats: 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game
Warriors rating: Moderately happy

2004 — Emeka Okafor

Team: Charlotte Bobcats
NBA career: 10 years
Career stats: 12.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game
Warriors rating: Moderately happy

2003 — Darko Miličić

Team: Detroit Pistons
NBA career: 10 years
Career stats: 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game
Warriors rating: Livid

2002 — Jay Williams

Team: Chicago Bulls
NBA career: 1 year
Career stats: 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game
Warriors rating: Incomplete (livid if Williams’ career-ending injury is included)

2001 — Tyson Chandler

Team: Chicago Bulls
NBA career: 19 years and counting
Career stats: 8.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game
Warriors rating: Very happy

2000 — Stromile Swift

Team: Vancouver Grizzlies
NBA career: 9 years
Career stats: 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game
Warriors rating: Unhappy

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My advice? Don’t complicate things, and simply draft the next Kevin Durant.