Ranking Golden State Warriors' Best Options with No. 30 Pick in 2015 NBA Draft
The Golden State Warriors have finally made the big time with a 2015 NBA Finals appearance. However, even with a deep roster, they still need to take a serious look at their best options with the No. 30 pick in the 2015 NBA draft.
This is where the scouts earn their money—finding the potential breakout talents. Look at the success of the San Antonio Spurs, who have built the core of their roster and reloaded with late picks and draft-day trades.
The Warriors have a lot of question marks going into the June 25 event. Draymond Green, who Golden State selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, will no doubt get a handsome raise this offseason.
The team will most likely be over the $81 million luxury-tax limit next season with the projected Green deal and the Klay Thompson extension in place. David Lee will be in the final year of his contract, but the Warriors would like to get a meaningful return if he is shipped out.
The team must also make a decision on restricted free agent center Ognjen Kuzmic. Meanwhile, Marreese Speights and Brandon Rush have player options that could put them back in a Golden State uniform next season.
Two shooting guard spots might be available with both Leandro Barbosa and Justin Holiday (restricted) becoming free agents. From a draft perspective, that area is a potential hot spot.
5. George de Paula, G, Brazil
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Since the Warriors have a young roster filled with upside, why not go after an underdeveloped guard with tremendous potential? George de Paula, a guard out of Brazil, has a 7'0" wingspan and mitts as large as a big man.
The risk is minimized with the Warriors holding the last spot in the first round. Head coach Steve Kerr has borrowed from San Antonio's philosophy to build this juggernaut, so why not once more?
De Paula would be a development project that will take at least a year or two to get comfortable with the NBA game. However, he would have one of the league's greatest ball-handlers and shooters as a teacher in Stephen Curry.
Per Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, De Paula understands his growing pains: "Everybody says that I’m not a shooter, but I think that I’m developing my shot. Sometimes I’m nervous and will do air balls, but it’s a psychological process for me."
De Paula is comfortable in the transition game that feeds right into Kerr’s uptempo pace. His style of play would be similar to Shaun Livingston's, where he is more comfortable backing down smaller players in the post.
His true value will be on the defense end, where he can use his long wingspan to break up passes, block shots and prevent the offense from running plays.
If he is selected by the Warriors, expect him to spend a lot of time in Santa Cruz with the D-League team improving his skills and getting up to speed. He could also be stashed overseas where he wouldn't be a financial liability next season.
4. Jordan Mickey, F, LSU
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Jordan Mickey is an undersized 6'7" forward out of LSU with a 7’3 1/4" wingspan. He is known primarily for his defensive play.
He was rewarded as a member of the SEC All-Conference first team and the All-Defensive team. He succeeds as a shot-blocker and with his lateral quickness.
Mickey can play in a style similar to Green, where he can rotate around and guard several positions. He is not a rim protector yet, as he will need to build strength in his lower body to get closer to that level.
With David Lee potentially holding onto the backup forward position for one more year, Golden State will need to transition someone for the second-team role.
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish believes that Mickey would be a nice addition to the Warriors, noting that “he'd be a nice piece for a Warriors team with a lot of nice pieces.”
If the Warriors call his name, Mickey will need to improve his offensive game and passing skills (minus-6.9 PPR, per DraftExpress.com). He primarily uses post moves and a jump hook.
He averaged 15.4 points, 9.9 boards and 3.6 blocks per game last season. Mickey would have to work on extending his range to fit with Golden State's style of play.
3. Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
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Christian Wood is a stretch 4 who could fit the style that Kerr laid out in his initial plans. He is more in the mold of a Channing Frye instead of David Lee.
Wood is a 19-year-old sophomore coming out of UNLV that has size (6’11”, 220 pounds) and athleticism to fit the role.
SI.com's Chris Johnson and Jeremy Woo have Golden State taking Wood with the 30th pick in their latest mock draft. They believe that Wood “fits their switch-heavy, spread-it-out philosophy and could become a very valuable cog in time as Golden State’s veteran-heavy roster ages.”
Wood averaged a double-double in his final season with the Running Rebels, which earned him a spot on the second-team All-Mountain West squad.
He fits the motion offense well because he can run the floor, dribble effectively and rebound the ball. He still needs to develop his body and gain strength, but Wood is still very young.
If the Warriors select him, Wood will need to develop his three-point shooting and improve his shot selection. He converted only 28 percent behind the college arc last season.
With Green holding down the starting power forward position, Wood could learn a lot and thrive within the Warriors' system.
2. Delon Wright, PG, Utah
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Delon Wright, the brother of former Warrior Dorell Wright, is a solid choice as a point guard. This former junior college transfer earned second team All-American honors last season while leading his Utah squad to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.
He is a larger point guard with his 6’5” size, 6’7 1/2” wingspan and 181-pound body, and can use his extra height to get a better view of the court. It could also be an advantage if he develops a post move similar to Livingston. Wright mostly uses his height to anticipate teammates on the move with his passing.
Wright uses his own style on offense, with a variety of speeds and moves to get to the basket. He is not overly muscular and will need to develop his 23-year-old frame.
Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders has the Warriors selecting Wright with their first-round pick.
He averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals in 34 games this past season. Wright also got to the line 5.4 times per game, showing his aggressive driving abilities.
His biggest strength is on the defensive side of the ball, as evidenced by his superb steal rate. Wright is quick to the ball, can anticipate passes and doesn’t mind getting dirty for rebounds.
He needs to work on his shooting abilities, including developing a pull-up jumper and improving his release point.
It wouldn’t hurt to have Curry or Thompson to learn from, either.
ESPN Insider Chad Ford (via Jacob Rosen of WaitingForNextYear.com) summed up Wright’s abilities, saying, “He isn’t a great shooter, but he’s a terrific penetrator and distributor.”
1. Rashad Vaugh, SG, UNLV
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Rashad Vaughn is a 6’5” freshman shooting guard from UNLV that has a 6’7” wingspan and knows how to score. He would work well with the Warriors’ floor-spacing style and can hit shots from all angles.
He averaged 18.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 22 games with the Running Rebels before tearing the meniscus in his left knee late in the season. Vaughn can score off the dribble, with the catch-and-shoot and by running off screens. He also made 38.3 percent of his tries beyond the arc.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman had the Warriors taking the shooting guard with the last pick in the first round of his mock draft after the lottery selections were made.
He adds that “with Leandro Barbosa and Justin Holiday hitting free agency this summer, the Golden State Warriors will look to maintain their shooting depth. That's something Rashad Vaughn will likely specialize in as a pro.”
Vaughn has the tools to be a good defender and has the lateral quickness, but must turn up his motor.
Vaughn has tools that the Warriors could harness and turn him into a solid second-unit player.
Measurables are from the 2015 NBA Draft Combine, courtesy of DraftExpress.com.
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