NBA Draft 2011: 4 High-Risk, High-Reward Options for the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors fans' online discussions, ongoing threads in fan forums and even comments to Warriors news stories somehow always open themselves up to "that guy."
Whether consciously or not, we've all experienced that guy.
The fan who's smarter than us.
Not smarter because he knows anything more about the game of basketball or the players who play it—but because he's "figured it out."
He's "accepted" that the Warriors are a lousy franchise, are seen as such by the rest of the league and will never take the next step.
While one playoff trip since 1994 is hard to overlook, other Warriors fans know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Basketball junkies, meanwhile, know that a well thought-out, calculated risk could accelerate the process of turning this franchise around.
Just ask the Memphis Grizzlies (a franchise without a playoff victory prior this postseason) how their risky acquisition of perennial malcontent Zach Randolph has worked out for them. Or ask the Oklahoma City Thunder how they feel about drafting a small forward who struggled to bench 180 pounds.
Heck, ask Warriors fans their opinion on dealing for a veteran point guard—who relies on athleticism more than skills—with a history of knee injuries. Better yet, ask their opinion on trading for a package centered on two key figures of one of the lowest moments in professional sports history (the appropriately dubbed Pacers%E2%80%93Pistons_brawl">Malice at the Palace).
Risky maneuvers are, by no means, the blueprints to building a successful franchise. But taking the right risks could mean a spot in the playoffs—and not the lottery—next season.
Jordan Williams, Maryland
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Williams made a splash in his first season in the ACC when he earned a place on the conference's All-Rookie team.
His sophomore campaign showed his continued growth, as the big man posted NBA-ready averages of 16.9 points and 11.8 rebounds. In fact, Williams increased every notable statistical category except for his number of fouls.
He's a productive post player both in terms of scoring with his back-to-the-basket and aggressively attacking the offensive and defensive glass. He does not possess jaw-dropping post moves, but he puts in his work early, using his size and strength to establish good position.
He's shown good footwork, but scouts worry about his conditioning—his 6'10", 260-lb. frame looks better on paper.
To his credit, he has shown the effort to reshape his body. Training alongside some NBA players and other hopeful future players at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas, Williams has trimmed his body fat percentage from 14 to just 8.9.
He's not worth a first-round investment considering where the Warriors are choosing, but he could be the latest second-round gem that this franchise discovers.
Bismack Biyombo, Congo
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The Internet has been abuzz over Biyombo for quite some time now. Ask fans what they are most excited about, and the answers will surely vary.
Could it be his chiseled 6'9", 240-lb. frame that totes just 4.8 percent body fat?
Perhaps it's that 7'7" wingspan that swats away anything thrown up in his vicinity.
Or maybe it's that insatiable energy and passion for the game of basketball that fuels his energy and keeps him playing his hardest at any time of the game.
How, then, would the Warriors even have a chance at drafting him without moving up? Well, scouts are not completely sold on his potential.
His offensive game defines the word raw: little or no post moves, with his points coming mainly on dunks. As well, that same motor that some scouts salivate over also has a tendency to rear its head at inopportune times, leaving Biyombo forcing the issue.
Still, the potential for greatness is there, and with any semblance of a developing post game, he could be the Warriors' center for the next 10 years—as long as he's really 18 like he says he is.
Jeremy Tyler, USA
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Flash back to spring 2009 for a moment.
The college hoops world had just finished its annual recruiting battles, and sighs overwhelmed the nation outside of Kentucky. Rick Pitino had done it again, nabbing several scouting services' No. 1 junior, a 6'11", super athletic big man named Jeremy Tyler who posted 28.7 points per game.
If you don't know the rest of the story, it sure gets interesting. Tyler broke his commitment to Louisville and opted to forgo his senior year of high school and play professionally overseas.
Despite questions of his maturity level and decision-making surrounding the move, Tyler was still projected at or near the top of the 2011 NBA draft board.
Now, the 2011 draft is less than two months away, and Tyler is nearly a forgotten man.
Sure, NBA scouts have not forgotten about him, but he's now seen as a fringe first-round pick who could slip to the late second.
Any team that drafts him understands the magnitude of the work in front of it. He's absolutely a project pick. But most project picks do not have this upside.
At best, SwishScout.com says, he's Derrick Favors meets DeMarcus Cousins. His athleticism (even at 6'11", 255 lbs.) is off the charts. Combine that with his strength, steady mid-range jumper and his developing post game and Tyler could be a franchise big man.
A dominant workout circuit could push him near the top of this subpar class. If the Warriors are not sold on the prospects of other lottery hopefuls, perhaps they could move down and roll the dice on Tyler.
Josh Selby, Kansas
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Selby's story is somewhat similar to Tyler's, although his happened more abruptly and closer to home.
Less than one year ago, Selby sat atop the Rivals.com rankings as the No. 1 recruit in the 2010 class.
The attacking point guard from Baltimore suited up with Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks in the fall, but his start was derailed by a nine-game suspension for receiving improper benefits. His debut, however, did not disappoint, as the freshman poured in 21 points.
But his minutes were somewhat limited, and he often found himself playing the off-guard (not his natural position and one his 6'2" frame would not allow him to play at the next level). A foot injury in late January saw Selby literally limp to the season's end with just 7.9 points per game.
However, like Williams, Selby has arrived with a vengeance at Impact. His 40-hour workweeks have seen him shed 13 pounds and reestablished that quickness and explosiveness that pushed him to the front of his class.
ESPN's Chad Ford said Selby has looked "awesome" at the camp and compared his athletic, attacking style to none other than Monta Ellis. What's more is that Selby's shown the ability and willingness to give his all on both ends of the floor.
Why would the Warriors spend their lottery pick on the one position where they appear to be set for the future? Given the caliber of other players available at this spot, it's hard to imagine that the Warriors will have many others projected to have the same kind of future.
He could step in next season and markedly upgrade this team's second unit. After a season or two under his belt, one of the three dynamic guards could then be used to bring in that dynamic big man who makes this club a championship contender.
That is, of course, if the Warriors have not found their guy by then.
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