Golden State Warriors, NBA draft Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors used to be a team that drafted players in the top 10 all the time. A perennial lottery team, the Warriors lived at the bottom of the standings, and in the NBA that means picking high in the NBA Draft year after year.
That is how they build the core of their championship team. Stephen Curry was the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft; Klay Thompson went 11th in 2011, but then the Warriors were back up to seventh in 2012 to take Harrison Barnes.
After seven straight years in the playoffs and three titles, the Warriors saw injuries strike in the most brutal way in 2019-20, which lead to the team’s first lottery pick since Barnes in 2012. Sitting at second overall the Warriors took Memphis center James Wiseman, who had an up-and-down rookie season for the Dubs.
One year later, a narrow miss on the playoffs plus Minnesota’s first-round pick they picked up in the D’Angelo Russell / Andrew Wiggins trade has the Warriors armed with not one but two lottery picks. Drafting at seventh and fourteenth in the 2021 NBA Draft, who will the Warriors take?
The Golden State Warriors have the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Who are some prospects they should consider drafting in that slot?
The Warriors expect to compete for a title next season. Curry is at the top of his game, Thompson should be back early in the season fully healthy, and Draymond Green is still a defensive force, finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. Some rotation pieces came to light last season, including young guard Jordan Poole and versatile forward Juan Toscano-Anderson.
How do the Warriors add to that core in a way that helps them the most? Do they look to add a prospect who is able to contribute right away? That’s usually something teams do later in the draft, taking a low upside prospect who can be a rotation player right away; the Memphis Grizzlies did this with Xavier Tillman Sr. in last year’s draft.
The Warriors also have to think about the future. Do they take the best prospect available, even if he is raw, trying to build a future core with Wiseman and Poole, balancing winning now with the future as Curry, Green and Thompson begin the downslope of their careers? It may be a long time before the Warriors pick this high again.
That is the tension for the Warriors if they cannot move the picks in a trade for a superstar. It is even more significant at pick No. 7, as there could be the ultimate dichotomy of now-vs-then available. In light of that tension, who are five options for the Warriors with the seventh pick?
Golden State Warriors</a> used to be a team that drafted players in the top 10 all the time. A perennial lottery team, the Warriors lived at the bottom of the standings, and in the NBA that means picking high in the NBA Draft year after year.</p>
<p>That is how they build the core of their championship team. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/27/golden-state-warriors-nba-draft-2/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/curryst01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Stephen Curry</a> was the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft; Klay Thompson went 11th in 2011, but then the Warriors were back up to seventh in 2012 to take Harrison Barnes.</p>
<p>After seven straight years in the playoffs and three titles, the Warriors saw injuries strike in the most brutal way in 2019-20, which lead to the team’s first lottery pick since Barnes in 2012. Sitting at second overall the Warriors took Memphis center James Wiseman, who had an up-and-down rookie season for the Dubs.</p>
<p>One year later, a narrow miss on the playoffs plus Minnesota’s first-round pick they picked up in the D’Angelo Russell / Andrew Wiggins trade has the Warriors armed with not one but two lottery picks. Drafting at seventh and fourteenth in the 2021 NBA Draft, who will the Warriors take?</p>
<h2>The Golden State Warriors have the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Who are some prospects they should consider drafting in that slot?</h2>
<p>The Warriors expect to compete for a title next season. Curry is at the top of his game, Thompson should be back early in the season fully healthy, and Draymond Green is still a defensive force, finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. Some rotation pieces came to light last season, including young guard Jordan Poole and versatile forward Juan Toscano-Anderson.</p>
<p>How do the Warriors add to that core in a way that helps them the most? Do they look to add a prospect who is able to contribute right away? That’s usually something teams do later in the draft, taking a low upside prospect who can be a rotation player right away; the Memphis Grizzlies did this with Xavier Tillman Sr. in last year’s draft.</p>
<p>The Warriors also have to think about the future. Do they take the best prospect available, even if he is raw, trying to build a future core with Wiseman and Poole, balancing winning now with the future as Curry, Green and Thompson begin the downslope of their careers? It may be a long time before the Warriors pick this high again.</p>
<p>That is the tension for the Warriors if they cannot <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/27/golden-state-warriors-nba-draft-2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/27/golden-state-warriors-ben-simmons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">move the picks in a trade for a superstar</a>. It is even more significant at pick No. 7, as there could be the ultimate dichotomy of now-vs-then available. In light of that tension, who are five options for the Warriors with the seventh pick?</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/27/golden-state-warriors-nba-draft-2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Ignite the Upside </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Golden State Warriors, NBA draft Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Golden State Warriors options for pick No. 7: 5. Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite</h2>
<p>For most of the past year, there has been a clear-cut “Top 5” of prospects for the 2021 NBA Draft. Four of those five are likely to be the first four picks of the draft on Thursday: Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs.</p>
<p>The fifth member of that original five has begun sliding down some draft boards. Jonathan Kuminga is one of the youngest players in this class, and combined with his relatively late start at basketball is one of the draft’s more raw prospects. He spent last year with the G League Ignite, and while he absolutely showed flashes of ability he also struggled with the physicality of the league as a string-bean 18-year-old.</p>
<p>Kuminga is a very good athlete, with strength and power in his movements and jumps, and excellent body control as well. While he needs to add weight he profiles as a good finisher. Out on the perimeter, his shot mechanics look good, but he didn’t translate that into hitting shots in the G League.</p>
<p>Defensively Kuminga’s athleticism and wingspan (over seven feet) set him up for success, but he doesn’t have the instincts on that end yet. He was pushed around in the G League, commonly out of position and reacted a beat slower than he needed to in many situations. This is where his lack of experience comes into play, as he just hasn’t accumulated the number of reps necessary to excel in this area.</p>
<p>The upside is real, and he could absolutely put things together and be an All-Star five years down the road. Can the Warriors wait that long, tying up the asset and the draft slot? If Kuminga drops to seven, do the Warriors take best-player-available and worry about it later? It’s a hard call, but in the end, the Warriors need this asset to help next season; if they take Kuminga, it may be to keep the value of that pick high in order to flip him in a trade.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Golden State Warriors, NBA draft Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Golden State Warriors options for pick No. 7: 4. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor</h2>
<p>If Jonathan Kuminga represents the long-term upside play, Davion Mitchell represents the far opposite end of the spectrum. The Baylor guard will turn 23 years old before the start of next season, but he looks tailor-made to step into the NBA and start competing for the Warriors from day one.</p>
<p>Mitchell was a really good player at Baylor prior to this past season, but he took a major step forward last season. He improved his 3-point shot all the way up to 45 percent; was that a real improvement, or simply a hot shooting season? He shot just 64.1 percent from the free-throw line, which seems to suggest he was somewhat lucky to shoot that high. The question isn’t whether he will shoot 45 percent in the NBA, it’s whether he is a 35 or 39 percent shooter.</p>
<p>What the Warriors will most be embracing in Mitchell is his defense. The 6’2″ guard defended every team’s best perimeter player in the Baylor Bears’ run to the NCAA Championship this past spring. He is glad to pick up ball handlers in full court, putting immense pressure at the point of attack. Mitchell is incredibly strong for his size, plays physical, and is a master of taking charges (and selling the contact, to be sure).</p>
<p>Mitchell is also incredibly fast, which helps him on defense (react and beat his man to the spot) and on offense, with a quick first step to fain separation. He is a good offensive conductor with his passing and is willing to move the ball. Overall he is a supreme competitor and will play hard every minute he is on the court.</p>
<p>The Warriors would be taking a player who can guard opposing guards, especially the fastest guards that Klay Thompson always used to pick up. If the shooting is somewhat real he could be good enough as a rookie to join the rotation in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Mitchell is also older, doesn’t have true star upside and would be bucking the odds to be a true contributor in year one in the league. If that is the case, and especially if the shot is a mirage, then the Warriors would be spending the seventh pick on a low-ceiling backup to Stephen Curry when they already have Jordan Poole.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Golden State Warriors, NBA draft Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Golden State Warriors options for pick No. 3: James Bouknight, SG, UConn</h2>
<p>Last year the Golden State Warriors were desperate for someone to put pressure on the rim. Andrew Wiggins can score inside but is not blowing by defenders and forcing the defense into rotation. Jordan Poole is growing in that area but it’s not the highlight of his game.</p>
<p>If the Warriors take Connecticut shooting guard James Bouknight with the seventh pick, that need would immediately be filled. Whatever else he will be in his career, Bouknight is a walking bucket, pouring in points from everywhere on the court.</p>
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<p>An exceptional athlete, Bouknight’s combination of long strides and length allow him to gain separation when driving to the rim, and he is strong enough to go up through contact and finish. He has “shake” and can get to his spots to rise up for a short jumper or to create a layup. He is confident (probably too confident) in his shot, and will roast mismatches to create his own shot.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, he wasn’t particularly accurate with that shot, shooting just 32 percent across two seasons with the Huskies. The rosy interpretation of that number is that he was needing to create everything for himself, playing on a team with no other offensive creators. He shot 80 percent from the line, suggesting there is a true shooter hidden underneath if his looks get easier.</p>
<p>On defense, Bouknight competes, and his athleticism and physicality do him well. Off the ball, he does have frequent lapses, and if he is caught on a switch he loses very quickly. He might become a really good defender, but even if he doesn’t he shouldn’t be a blazing target for opposing offenses.</p>
<p>Steve Kerr and the Warriors ask players to move the ball, and that is one of Bouknight’s biggest drawbacks. Perhaps because of the team he played on and what he was asked to do, Bouknight rarely looks for the pass. He is a score-first guard through and through. Is that what the Warriors need to juice their second-unit offense? Or will fitting Bouknight into this roster and scheme be like fitting a square peg into a round hole?</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Golden State Warriors, NBA draft Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Golden State Warriors options for pick No. 7: 2. Franz Wagner, F, Michigan</h2>
<p>The Golden State Warriors have their star slot filled with the unquenchable Stephen Curry. Draymond Green and Curry will handle the vast majority of the ball-handling, with Jordan Poole in place to fill in when they both sit. Klay Thompson should work back to his large role. As long as he is on the team, Andrew Wiggins figures to get a fair amount of shots up, and the only reason he would leave is in a trade for another player who will likewise shoot.</p>
<p>That means that this team is already apportioning most of their usage to their established players. What they truly need to fit around that core are high-end role players, guys who can come in and don’t need the ball in their hands or a high usage to thrive.</p>
<p>Enter Franz Wagner, a long forward who was probably the best player on a Michigan team that last season finished as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He is a plus defender in almost every scenario, with the combination of size and lateral quickness to switch and guard any player 1 through 4 on-ball.</p>
<p>Off-ball he is incredible, sliding between defensive assignments and pouncing into passing lanes. His personal steal rate was exceptional, and he simultaneously triggered turnovers for his teammates with numerous deflections. As one of the younger players in the draft, he should only improve.</p>
<p>Wagner needs that improvement to come on offense as well, as he is not a great offensive player right now. He is an inconsistent shooter, with a shot that doesn’t look broken and often goes in, but he will get into extended slumps where the shot doesn’t come close to going in. His path to starting in the league is as a 3-and-D player, so he needs to actualize his shooting potential and iron out the inconsistencies. If he does, he’s a great fit for a winning team like the Warriors.</p>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Golden State Warriors, NBA draft Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Golden State Warriors options for pick No. 7: 1. Josh Giddey, Wing, Adelaide</h2>
<p>Some of the very best players to come out of the NBA Draft in recent seasons have been big players who can pass. Luka Doncic is an exceptional scorer, but he’s a future MVP because of his passing. LaMelo Ball was the best player in last season’s draft, and those who highlighted his incredible passing ability pre-draft were proven right as he excelled as a rookie.</p>
<p>That’s the reason Josh Giddey <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/27/golden-state-warriors-nba-draft-2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/13/2021-nba-draft-profile-josh-giddey/">continues to rise up draft boards</a>. The 6’8″ wing out of Australia is a gifted passer, with the vision to see passes few see and the confidence to throw them. He is ambidextrous, letting him get the ball to a teammate no matter where his dribble is. He sees the floor and processes where his teammates and defenders will be and meets them there with the ball. He led the NBL, Australia’s top basketball league, in assists as a teenager.</p>
<p>Giddey isn’t a sure thing, especially not with a very inconsistent shot and a loose handle. He’s not a hyper athlete, incredibly strong or particularly fast; he will have to rely on craft and guile more than overwhelming physical gifts to score at the next level.</p>
<p>Defensively his basketball genius helps him to know where to be, even if he is not as fast as some of the players he is guarding. He is very thin and light and frequently got run over even when he tried hard on defense. His competitive drive is elite, and will help drive him to improve his game.</p>
<p>The Golden State Warriors love exceptional passers, and they could try to fit Giddey into some sort of version of the role that Shaun Livingston filled for the dynasty teams. His trajectory and passing ability suggest he should grow into a much better player and shore up the weaknesses in his game. His current fit with Draymond Green is questionable given Giddey’s inconsistent shooting, but elite passers find a way to be valuable.</p>
<p>The Warriors could swing for the fences with a high-upside pick like Jonathan Kuminga, or try to pick for the present with Davion Mitchell. Franz Wagner would prop up the defense, while James Bouknight would goose the offense. Josh Giddey would thrive in this system.</p>
<p>There are plenty of options available at seventh, and the lottery still feels very wide open. Who the Warriors take could be a major factor in whether not the Warriors win another title, but similarly could be a piece of the Warriors’ post-Curry future.</p>
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