Warriors Rumors: Anthony Edwards Targeted If GSW Land No. 1 Draft Pick
The Golden State Warriors are in a rare position to land one of the top picks in the NBA draft, although there is debate over who is the best prospect in the 2020 class.
According to Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Warriors will "likely" select Georgia guard Anthony Edwards if they land the No. 1 overall pick and don't trade down.
The team will also "strongly consider" Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton, Auburn's Isaac Okoro and Israel's Deni Avdija within the top five.
Golden State has officially finished its season with the worst record in the NBA at 15-50, giving the team a 14 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick in the lottery, per Tankathon.
It's an unfamiliar position for a team that went to the NBA Finals the previous five seasons. The last time the Warriors drafted before No. 28 overall was in 2012 when they took Harrison Barnes seventh.
This year, there is no clear top prospect, such as Zion Williamson the previous season.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman listed LaMelo Ball as the No. 1 player in the 2020 class, followed by Killian Hayes at No. 2 and Edwards at No. 3. Memphis center James Wiseman is also considered an option for the No. 1 pick.
Despite the plethora of choices, Edwards (19.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG) has a claim as the top prospect thanks to his 6'5" size, athleticism and skill set as a 2-guard.
He could make an immediate impact for the Warriors, a team ready to return to contention in 2020-21 when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson return to full strength. This veteran backcourt, plus small forward Andrew Wiggins, will prevent any rookie guard from starting, but it also takes the pressure off.
Drafting Edwards would give Golden State a high-upside rotational piece in year one and someone who could eventually take over for Curry or Thompson down the line.
