Full Scouting Report for Golden State Warriors' Top 2015 Draft Targets
The Golden State Warriors are one of the few teams that will be able to gamble a little bit with their first round draft choice due to their already impressive depth and talented core.
Slated to pick No. 30 overall, Golden State should have their eyes set on players that can be brought along slowly rather than forced quickly into action at the outset of the 2015-16 season. However, with the futures of Marreese Speights (team option), Leandro Barbosa (unrestricted free agent), Justin Holiday (restricted) and David Lee uncertain, it would be wise for general manager Bob Myers and Co. to seriously consider drafting a replacement at any of those positions.
UNLV's Rashad Vaughn and Christian Wood are both capable of fitting the bill. The former Runnin' Rebels have yet to celebrate their 20th birthday's but their raw skills are undeniable.
Former Washington Huskies center Robert Upshaw is another option despite his off-court issues and he could serve as a safety net for the Dubs should Andrew Bogut succumb to injury.
That said, let's take a closer look at each of the prospects listed above.
Rashad Vaughn, SG, UNLV
At 6’6”, 199 pounds, Rashad Vaughn has both the size and length (6’7” wingspan) to play both guard positions at the NBA level.
Currently just 18 years old, Vaughn’s greatest strength is his ability to score the ball in a variety of ways. Whether he’s running his man off screens or breaking him down off the dribble, the freshman guard proved he can either rise up and shoot over the defense or finish through contact at the rim.
He’ll have to develop his skills as a distributor if he wants to see time at the point guard position, though (1.9 assists per 40 minutes last year). But according to Vaughn, he’s more than capable of doing just that.
“I’m more than a shooter,” Vaughn told Lakers beat writer Mark Medina. “I can create for my team. I can do it all. I want to go out there and prove that.”
With Leandro Barbosa getting ready to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, Vaughn would likely get the opportunity to show the Warriors what he can do should they draft him.
He’s a very talented player for his age, and his upside could be better than advertised.
Adding muscle to his frame should be priority No. 1 for him once he’s drafted, his passing acumen will improve in time.
Christian Wood, PF, UNLV
Christian Wood’s minutes were more than doubled from his freshman to sophomore year, and his stats certainly reflected as much.
In 32.7 minutes per game, Wood poured in 15.7 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and came up with 2.7 blocks thanks to his 6’10.5” size and 7’3.25” wingspan.
Offensively, Wood excels in transition, where his long strides help him get up and down the court faster than his opponents—something the Warriors could use to their advantage.
And despite shooting just 28.4 percent on his three-point field goals, he displayed a relatively smooth-looking jumper this past season. In fact, it’s his 73.6 percent conversion rate from the free-throw line that highlights his potential as a stretch-4 in the NBA.
“Wood thrived in transition last year for the Rebels and showed strong signs of a high-level perimeter game,” SI.com’s Chris Mannix told Comcast SportsNet New England. “But he is very light, particularly in the lower body and looked lost a lot on defense last season.”
While the 19-year-old is at his best protecting the rim, he must add bulk to take the nightly beatings that NBA bigs so often dish out.
At his age, he has more than enough time to figure out the nuances of an NBA defense. And with Draymond Green and some combination of David Lee and Marreese Speights likely soaking up all the minutes at power forward, Golden State won’t need Wood to contribute right away.
Robert Upshaw, C, Washington (formerly)
Robert Upshaw measured in at a massive 7’0”, 258 pounds (7’5.5” wingspan) at the draft combine back in mid-May, exhibiting the dimensions that make him such a potentially dominant center.
Before getting kicked off the basketball team at Washington due to what Yahoo's Jeff Eisenberg described as "an unspecified violation of team rules" this season, Upshaw was leading the country in blocks with an unreal 4.5-per-game average.
He also featured a nice touch around the rim, converting on 59.7 percent of his field-goal attempts.
Rebounding was somewhat of an issue, however, as the big man only managed to collect 8.2 boards per game. But NBA teams aren’t entirely concerned with that right now—they know he can play.
Instead, executives want to know if he has gotten past his use of drugs (specifically marijuana) and alcohol.
“It’s been a long process,” Upshaw told SBNation’s Ricky O’Donnell. “I’ve had a lot of education around drugs and alcohol. A lot of things I’ve been through, I haven’t kept them a secret. I’ve just been working on myself with a team of people that are close to me to have structure and success at the next level.”
Admitting to his problems is probably refreshing for team decision-makers, and after getting kicked out of two programs (Washington last season and Fresno State the year before), it seems like Upshaw is finally getting it.
“I realized that I’m 21 years old, I got a family to feed and food is not going to put itself on the table,” Upshaw explained. “I have one more opportunity to accomplish my goals and be able to take care of my family. I have one chance and I’m gonna sacrifice and do anything possible.”
Of course, it’s wonderful to hear Upshaw say these things. But it’s another to see if he will actually follow through on his promises.
The Warriors would be wise to give him a shot if he’s still on the board when it’s their turn to pick. His skill set is undeniable, and between Green, Jerry West and head coach Steve Kerr, the 21-year-old will have enough positive reinforcement surrounding him at all times.
All measurables courtesy of DraftExpress. All stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.
Tim MacLean is a Featured Columnist for the Golden State Warriors. Follow him on Twitter.
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