This is no longer the Golden State Warriors you grew up with.

Times have changed, finally, for a franchise that for so long has drowned in mediocrity.  

The Warriors aren’t decorated with championships. The team’s retired jerseys belong to the distant past, mostly from an era of the 60s and 70s that precedes the current Golden State fan’s memory.

As far as recent history goes, Hall of Famer Chris Mullin’s jersey hangs from his time in the '80s and '90s though even his playoff games capped at 33 through just five short postseason appearances with the Warriors.

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Teams drafting in the NBA lottery typically have more than one need. The toughest part of the evaluation process is deciding whether to fill a specific need or go with the best available player. 

It's a pickle that general managers find themselves in all the time.

Let's address what each team needs specifically and see who might be available to fit.

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Long-term upside is another way of talking about a prospect's ceiling.

A ceiling is the best possible player a prospect can become. But it usually takes a while to get there, which is why we call it long-term upside.

Though these players have the highest ceilings and upsides, it doesn't mean they are the six best prospects. Victor Oladipo is likely to get selected before Alex Len, though if they both reach their ceilings, Len will end up the better player.

These are the guys who could turn out to be the top players from this draft if they all reach their NBA ceilings.

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The grumbles have turned to applause.

When the Indiana Pacers paid Roy Hibbert a max contract valued at $58 million over four years this past offseason, it was labeled one of the worst contracts in basketball.

But like the stock of Tiger Woods, public opinion has quickly changed to favorable. Thanks to the playoffs showcase of his defensive gifts, paired with his improving offensive game, Hibbert is quickly proving his value.

Last July, the Pacers matched the competing contract offer by the Portland Trail Blazers to hang on to their 7’2” restricted free-agent center. Criticism of the deal was understandable, as the former 17th overall pick was turning 26 and he had never averaged averaged more than 12.8 points or 8.8 rebounds, both highs in his 2011-12 season.

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With the lottery set and the combine complete, we're starting to see some pieces from the NBA draft puzzle fall into place.

Most of the top-ranked guys have maintained their status as top-ranked guys. It's tough to disappoint coaches during simple little drills and running around some cones.

The needle will really start to move once head-to-head workouts get underway, and these top-ranked guys start facing each other.

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Kevin Durant’s season of missed opportunity supports multiple truths that we already knew:

1. Even the most elite of superstars can’t do it alone in today’s NBA.

2. Scoring will never be valued ahead of winning.

3. Durant is still the second-best superstar.

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Frank Vogel blew it.

The Indiana Pacers coach allowed LeBron James an open lane for a last-second layup when he kept his rim-protector, Roy Hibbert, on the bench in the final seconds of a 103-102 Game 1 overtime loss to the Miami Heat.

What could have been a monumental victory for the Pacers to begin the Eastern Conference Finals turned into a dreadful coach's decision that will be heavily scrutinized.

The Pacers led by one with 2.2 seconds left in OT as the ball was inbounded from half court to James, who pivoted quickly on an overplaying Paul George and attacked an unguarded rim for the game-winner.

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How many mulligans can Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks take before Dirk Nowitzki has fizzled as a championship-caliber franchise player?

We might find out this summer.

According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Mavs are shopping the No. 13 pick in the 2013 NBA draft in an attempt to clear cap space for signing one of the league's marquee free agents:

Attempting to pry either Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers or Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers will be a chore enough in its own right—even more so when factoring in Dallas' spotty history in free agency.

The Mavs failed to lure Deron Williams back to his hometown last summer, perhaps in part because Cuban was off filming an episode of Shark Tank in LA, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com.

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