We are just over a week away from the draft and the rumors should begin to ramp up in the coming days.
Now that the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals, the basketball world's attention shifts to next week’s 2021 NBA Draft.
The consensus is that the Detroit Pistons will make Cade Cunningham the No. 1 overall pick, but it’s anyone guess how the rest of the selections will unfold.
It will be interesting to see what the Golden State Warriors will do with their pair of lottery picks. General manager Bob Myers will have a tough decision to make with the Nos. 7 and 14 selections.
Some NBA insiders believe the Dubs will look to package the picks to acquire another established veteran to add to the team’s core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The Warriors are hoping to be back in title contention again next season, so this will be a huge few weeks for Myers and co. Golden State will likely have to improve the roster through trades since it only has the $5.9 million midlevel exception to work with in free agency.
If the Dubs keep both of their picks, they need to focus on adding depth to the bench. No one knows where Thompson’s game will be when he returns to the lineup, but the Warriors need to add some scoring help and shooting.
We will find out soon enough what Golden State will do with its pair of lottery selections, but here is who some draft pundits have the Warriors taking if they keep both picks.
On Moody:
The Golden State Warriors will see Moses Moody as an easy fit for his off-ball scoring and defensive tools to guard both wing spots.
He’ll offer immediate shot-making, while his ability to get buckets within the flow of a team’s offense should be an obvious draw for this particular roster.
It’s unlikely he’ll still be there by the team’s second first-round pick at No. 14. James Bouknight figures to be in the mix at No. 7 as well if he’s still on the board, but Moody’s superior shooting and three-and-D archetype could look more appealing.
On Mitchell:
A lockdown defender at the college level, Mitchell is jumping up the board with his play in the NCAA tournament. He brings an edge that translates to victories on the court and his development as a perimeter shooter has turned him into a pro prospect.
Mitchell’s measurements at the NBA draft combine were not all that impressive, but the eye test has him near the top of the draft. Steph can’t play forever and Klay is coming back after missing two seasons with major injuries. Mitchell is a player that can defend the opposition’s most difficult cover and his ability to hit the three ups his value considerably.
The Warriors have options here, including trading out of the pick. Everything is on the table, but if they stay here, this is a player that can step in and be impactful on Day 1.
On Giddey:
This is another riser in this year’s draft. Giddey is a crafty passer with great court vision and a flair for the spectacular. He’s solid in the pick-and-roll and he’s just now starting to grow into his frame. He’s likely a secondary ball-handler and playmaker at the NBA level, but he’s developing quickly and has the ability to sling passes all over the court with either hand.
Giddy is climbing fast with his play in the ABL and he might make it all the way to the top 10 before it’s all said and done. His combination of skill and size is appealing, as is his ability to play 1-3 on the court.
Golden State is at a crossroads. They might package this pick and No. 7 for a veteran that can help right away. If they don’t, the Warriors need to find players that fit their style of play and have tremendous upside. Giddey checks all of these boxes and could be a steal at this point in the draft.
On Bouknight:
The Golden State Warriors are all over the place trying to peg down what their target at No. 7 might be. Josh Giddey, Keon Johnson, Davion Mitchell, James Bouknight, Moses Moody and even Franz Wagner all appear to be real possibilities here. I’m going with Bouknight right now for a couple reasons. We saw the Warriors really struggle to score without Stephen Curry on the court this season. With Klay Thompson coming back, you hope the All-Star will be back to full strength, but he’ll probably be in and out of the lineup quite often.
If you believe in Jordan Poole as the guy ready to step in, then great. But the Warriors should have a contingency plan, and Bouknight is a good option for that plan. He can really score the ball, and he’s a good enough free throw shooter to believe that jumper will come around. He can be instant offense off the bench, and he’d play very well paired with Curry in the backcourt. If you want a guy with scoring punch, he’s probably the best available.
On Williams:
Another wing for the Warriors in this draft. After taking Bouknight at No. 7, it makes sense here. Kelly Oubre Jr. wants $20 million per season in free agency this coming offseason. Same. So instead of investing $50 million-plus per season between him and Andrew Wiggins, Bob Myers and company can start stockpiling smart wings, who can quickly learn how to play next to the Splash Brothers. Ziaire Williams is exactly that.
Williams was horrible at making shots at Stanford, but the ability to create them is there. Have the Warriors development staff work on his shooting (solid enough free throw percentage to be encouraged), and you’ve now added a long creator to the wing position. Warriors could try to add some big man depth here, as well, but Williams has lottery potential.
On Bouknight:
PLUSES
Explosive athlete with a quick first step to pressure the paint and the hops to play above the rim.
Finishes acrobatically inside by leaping off either foot and using either hand for touch layups or loud dunks. Also draws a lot of fouls with deceptive moves and body control.
Slippery ball handler who loves using hesitations to generate space for his jumpers. Can hit tough, contested shots off the dribble.
Instinctual player who relocates and cuts.
Speedy defender who could become an effective stopper against opposing guards and some wings. Made strides as a sophomore, especially focusing off-ball and making an impact in the passing lanes.
MINUSES
Playmaking instincts: He forces some passes that aren’t there and misses some open opportunities. And he too often kills his dribble.
Streaky spot-up shooter whose issues could be due to his mechanics. Has a relatively stiff shot out of stationary positions.
Inconsistent on-ball defender.
Suffered a torn meniscus as a junior in high school.
On Murphy:
PLUSES
Elite shooter with a quick release who can catch fire from 3. He has a strong feel for when to get open for a jumper and when to cut to the rim.
Has the potential to be an elite screener due to his size and his ability to both pop out for 3s and roll to the rim to finish with athleticism.
Reliable passer who keeps the ball moving. He makes quick decisions, executes simple plays, and can make accurate passes off the dribble.
Excellent defensive fundamentals, awareness, quickness, and length give him significant potential on that end. He stays in his stance man-to-man, and he fights through screens and handoffs like a veteran.
Versatile on-ball defender who could be utilized as an on-ball stopper in certain matchups. He can also switch screens and stay in front of smaller players.
Sentry off-ball defender who racks up deflections, picks off passes, and makes timely rotations.
Displays good habits boxing out when he’s near the rim, though his role was to sprint out on offense rather than crash the boards.
MINUSES
Elementary ball handler at this stage of his career who lacks the dribbling skills to create his own shot or get to the rim.
Unproven shooter off the dribble. He lacked opportunities at Virginia but also didn’t look comfortable when he did take jumpers off the bounce.
He can still improve as a shooter coming off movement. Mastering this skill would make him a major weapon as a perimeter scorer.
He’ll need to get stronger and become a better rebounder to be an effective small-ball center.
On Moody:
Trade rumors will continue to swirl surrounding the Warriors’ picks, but if they keep No. 7 I still think Moses Moody is the perfect fit. The main knock on him offensively is a lack of creation, and he won’t need to do that at all as a rookie with Golden State. Instead he can focus on his immediately translatable skills — 3-point shooting and defense. Unlike some, I see a lot of upside in Moody as a scorer, with a Khris Middleton type as the ultimate ceiling.
On Giddey:
After impacting winning as an 18-year-old against grown men in the Australian NBL, Josh Giddey should be able to step in and contribute right away for the Warriors. He’s a virtuoso passer who should fit right into the Warriors’ ball-movement, read-based offense and push the ball in transition. Defense and shooting will be the major questions, but the playmaking upside makes him an easy choice if he’s still on the board at No. 14.
