At least one NBA reporter says the Golden State Warriors front office is more forthcoming than usual regarding its favorite prospects in the upcoming NBA Draft. So which players do the Warriors mention the most, especially when considering their top pick in the draft at No. 7 overall?
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie dropped his latest NBA Mock Draft on Wednesday and selected UConn wing James Bouknight for Golden State at No. 7, but he had a lot more to say about the Warriors front office, too. My eyebrows rose multiple notches when I read the second sentence below, suggesting that the Warriors brass “seems to emanate” more information than most organizations. Plus, Vecenie tells us more about what he’s been hearing.
The Warriors are in a really interesting place. As always, a lot of information seems to emanate from their front office. Bouknight, Moses Moody, and Josh Giddey are the three names I’ve gotten most consistently for them. They fit a combination of what the front office wants to do (maximize the asset value) and what the coaching staff/players want (compete now and get players who can help them do that sooner rather than later).
Sam Vecenie/The Athletic
Yes, that’s right. The Warriors and general manager Bob Myers are still playing an “in-between” game of sorts, wanting to win now and set themselves up for the future, all at the same time.
Bouknight, Moses Moody and Josh Giddey are all young wing players in the 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-7 range that could help Golden State reach that goal. Bouknight has the most collegiate experience, with two years at UConn, compared to one season of NCAA play for Moody, an Arkansas product. Giddey has already played professionally in Australia and is just 18 years old.
Out of the three, only Giddey seems like a suspect fit. His shot reportedly needs a lot of work — including a possible deconstruction and rebuild — though he’s a superior passer. Moody and Bouknight are more adept at scoring in multiple ways.
But could this information, readily provided by Golden State, be a smokescreen for the Warriors? Could their real plans in the draft be hidden while they emanate more information than the average NBA team, throwing NBA observers off their scent, so to speak?
Could Golden State be setting itself up for its reported “Plan A” of using each lottery pick (No. 14, too) to acquire an NBA veteran?
It’s impossible to say, and we’ll know soon enough, with the NBA Draft arriving on July 29.
(Photo courtesy nikk_la)
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