NBA mock draft roundup: Warriors have plenty of options

Even though we are still uncertain when or if the 2019-20 NBA season will continue, one thing we know for sure is that the NBA Draft will happen at some point during the year.

That means a lot of mock drafts!

It is dependent on how the league will proceed to determining the draft order, but with 17 games left on the current schedule, the Golden State Warriors are in position to be tied to have the best odds to win the lottery at 14%.

Going through some of the latest mock drafts from around the web, it looks like experts view a different options as the best for the Dubs.

Here is a roundup:

ESPN: Pick: SG Anthony Edwards

Best fit: LaMelo Ball

“Edwards would add instant offense to an already high-powered nucleus with his ability to get downhill and rise up from anywhere on the floor. Small-ball lineups featuring Stephen Curry, Edwards, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green would offer an intriguing blend of skill and bounce, while Edwards also has the long-term upside to grow into the face of the franchise down the line.

But Ball is the most intriguing fit here. The Warriors want to play fast, and there’s no better open-court igniter in this crop than LaMelo. Ball pushing the break with two of the greatest shooters of all time filling the lanes would make for must-see TV. In an offense that thrives off of instinctual reads, his playmaking would shine bright, as long as he’s willing to alter his sometimes-trigger-happy style of play. One more option for the Warriors here: Maccabi Tel Aviv playmaker Deni Avdija would be a great fit. If Golden State ends up with the No. 1 pick and isn’t blown away by its options, trading down for Avdija could work well.” - Mike Schmitz.

USA TODAY: SG Anthony Edwards

“Edwards is an explosive scorer with immediate All-Star ability and two-way upside, making him the front-runner to hear his name called first. In a game against Michigan State, he put up 33 points in one half. Edwards’ stat line — 19.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds — doesn’t do him justice.”

SLAM: SG Anthony Edwards

“First things first: The Golden State Warriors are not about to draft a third Splash Brother. Anthony Edwards may not be a great three-point shooter, but that’s arguably the only thing he doesn’t already do at an elite level. As he showed pretty much every night during an SEC Freshman of the Year campaign at Georgia—and as comparisons to Donovan Mitchell, Victor Oladipo, and even Dwyane Wade make clear—the 6-5, 225-pound combo guard has all the tools necessary to be a difference maker in the NBA. With Steph and Klay both in their 30s and coming off major injuries, the Dubs need to be thinking about the backcourt of the future. Edwards could be their next All-Star SG.” — Ryan Jones

CBS Sports: PG LaMelo Ball

“It seemed unlikely, as recently as a year ago, that the youngest Ball brother (LaMelo) would be selected higher in this draft than the oldest Ball brother (Lonzo) was selected three drafts ago ? but here we are. The 6-6 point guard, who is still only 18 years-old, has developed into an incredible playmaker and passer who faired well playing professionally in Australia this past season. Some will choose to focus on his perceived negatives and low shooting percentages. But when you focus on what he can do, and how rare it is for somebody his age to do the things he can do, Ball becomes a legitimate option to be the first player picked in this draft.” - Gary Parrish.

Bleacher Report: C James Wiseman

“According to to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Golden State Warriors “aren’t believed to be high” on drafting James Wiseman with the No. 1 pick unless they were taking him for another team. But that may just be a rumor meant to throw off everyone. Besides, it’s a long time between now and June 25. With the presumptive returns of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, the Warriors will need a versatile player who can make an immediate impact. They will also need someone who can complement the Splash Brothers while also taking the spotlight off of the perennial All-Stars when needed. That player is Wiseman. While it’s true that he only had a small sample size of games at Memphis, Wiseman is the real deal. Just last year, the 7-footer was the No. 1-ranked player in the country after leading his East squad to the state championship. As a senior, he averaged 25.5 points, 14.3 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game.”

I find interesting that Ball is listed as “good fit” by Schmitz. He is a ball dominant point guard who would have a difficult time finding a role in a backcourt with Steph and Klay. I don’t see the Warriors even entertaining that thought.

Wiseman is another player who is up-and-down draft boards, depending on who you ask.

Edwards seems to be the most popular pick to go No. 1 and I am sure Steve Kerr would find a way to make it work with him on the team.

Of course, this is all assuming Bob Myers elects to keep the team’s first-round pick.

Would you be happy with Ball or Wiseman if the Warriors miss out on Edwards? Or is there another draft pick you have your eye on?