2015 NBA Draft Prospects the Golden State Warriors Should Already Be Considering
With just a little over four weeks remaining in the 2014-15 regular season, it’s time for front offices around the league to begin planning for this summer’s NBA draft. That goes for everyone, too, not just the 14 teams currently spiraling toward the lottery.
Were the season to end today, the Golden State Warriors (51-12) would finish the year with the Association’s best record, barely edging out the Atlanta Hawks (50-14) for that distinct honor. With this in mind, knowing that picks No. 15-30 are determined based on team record (worst to best), it’s safe to assume that Warriors general manager Bob Myers will be selecting a prospect with either the No. 29 or No. 30 overall pick.
That late in the first round, Golden State isn’t likely to find a potential franchise cornerstone such as Jahlil Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns. Instead, they will be looking for someone who will be able to come in and make an impact for them right away as a reserve.
As of right now, the Warriors aren’t absolutely set at any one position after the starting five, and you could even argue that Andrew Bogut is a little shaky due to his reputation as an injury-prone player. But even if Bogut were to stay healthy, he would still be one of four guys under contract next season that will turn at least 30 during the 2015-16 campaign. The other three, like Bogut, are also major contributors to Golden State’s cause, including Andre Iguodala (32), Shaun Livingston (30) and David Lee (32).
The question is where exactly should they go with that pick?
Well, anywhere, really.
Kris Dunn, PG, Providence
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Should Myers opt for help at the backup point guard position, Providence's Kris Dunn could be a solid fit.
Although his stroke from long range (33.3 percent) doesn't exactly mesh with Golden State's three-happy offense, Dunn won't be asked to fill it up from deep whenever head coach Steve Kerr gives him minutes. Rather, the 20-year old's job would be to keep the offense flowing while Stephen Curry gets a breather, something his nation-leading assist percentage (49.8 percent) suggests he's more than capable of doing.
And, despite his 6'3" size, Dunn would actually fit in nicely on the defensive end of the floor, as Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman points out: "Dunn is also an extremely active defender whose 6'8" wingspan and instincts have translated to the fifth-highest steal percentage in the country."
With such a massive wingspan for a player his size, Dunn wouldn't be a complete liability in Kerr's system, where he likes his players to switch on every pick-and-roll.
Caris LeVert, SG, Michigan
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The Warriors will have to get lucky in order to net a player as talented as Caris LeVert this late in the first round.
However, it's not impossible to think LeVert falls right into Golden State's lap, as two foot fractures in as many years may scare some teams off.
While he might end up being a gamble if he indeed does declare for the draft, the Warriors are the type of team that can afford to make it.
At 6'7", LeVert uses both speed and size to effectively score the basketball from almost anywhere on the floor, and his 40 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc makes him an ideal fit in Golden State's offense.
Should LeVert be off the board by the time it's the Warriors' turn to pick, Golden State could look to go with Georgia State's R.J. Hunter, who provides much of the same offensively as the Michigan Wolverine but is less of a household name at this point in the process.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona
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Since there aren’t many offensive-minded wing men hanging around at the end of Round 1, the Warriors could choose to take the defensive route with their pick. Arizona’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would be a really nice fit.
Equipped with NBA-level athleticism, Hollis-Jefferson has the ability to successfully shut down his opponents out on the perimeter both on and off the ball. He’s averaged 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per 40 minutes this year, and his 85.8 defensive rating places him in the top 20 in the country.
Hollis-Jefferson is very much a one-way player right now, as Wasserman explains: "Regardless of how much Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's offensive game develops, he'll be making his NBA money at the defensive end, where he can guard three positions and lock down perimeter scorers."
Still just 20 years old, though, Hollis-Jefferson has plenty of time to develop his offensive game.
Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
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The Warriors are in need of a little more rim protection, but they just aren't likely to find it from the power forward position.
Instead, Golden State could look to acquire an active, uber-athletic big man to run the floor and gobble up rebounds and easy buckets down low.
Enter Montrezl Harrell, who is currently averaging 15.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game doing just that for Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals.
Harrell isn't going to "wow" you with his jump shot or work off the bounce. But with Curry running the show, he won't need to anyway.
At 6'8", 235 pounds, Harrell serves as a big target to dump the ball down to off guard penetration in the lane and is strong enough to carve out space underneath the rim when necessary.
Kansas' Cliff Alexander is capable of much of the same and could potentially make an interesting alternative to Harrell.
However, inconsistent playing time has somewhat doomed the freshman's season and an ongoing investigation of his eligibility could put a damper on his draft stock.
Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
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At just 19 years old, Kentucky’s Dakari Johnson would be more of a long-term project to develop behind Bogut and Festus Ezeli.
With legitimate 7’0” size and length, there’s no denying Johnson’s physical tools. He’s 263 pounds and possesses a unique athletic ability that allows him to both alter and block his opponent's shots at the rim (2.0 blocks per 40 minutes).
Johnson’s offensive game is promising as well (16 points per 40 on 50 percent shooting), and his 44.7 to 63.7 percent improvement at the free-throw line from last year to now suggests that he might someday have the chops to step out and knock down a mid-range jumper or two.
Yet, it’s unclear whether or not Johnson will declare for this year’s draft or not. He’s still very raw, but his potential makes him worth taking late in the proceedings.
All stats are courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.
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