2011 NBA Draft: Larry Riley Says “There Will Be Several Good Players”
With the 2011 NBA Finals in the past, the NBA offseason has finally begun. While playoff teams are winding down from the rigors of the postseason, teams like the Golden State Warriors have already began exploring options to improve their teams next season. Following a disappointing season, in which the Warriors missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, there are obviously plenty of holes to plug in if the team hopes to be competitive next season. With this year's NBA draft quickly approaching, amid a whirlwind of trade talks involving star guard Monta Ellis, the Warriors front office has their hands full.
In the weeks leading up to the draft, Warriors general Manager, Larry Riley, spends his time analyzing potential draft selections and offseason roster moves. While the Finals may have just finished for the players, for executives, the NBA Draft serves as the equivalent of a “Finals.” Oftentimes selections and trades made on draft night can determine the overall success of a GM and ultimately, whether or not they keep their job.
Despite being very busy at this time of year, conducting workouts for draft prospects and observing potential trade possibilities, Larry Riley took a few minutes of his time to tell us a little bit about the Monta Ellis situation and what his team is expecting come draft time.
Mindless Dribble: Have you talked with Monta Ellis about his involvement in trade rumors in recent weeks? If so, what did you tell him?
Larry Riley: “We communicate with our players frequently, both during the season and during the offseason. With that said, we don’t make a habit of divulging the topics of those discussions with the public and media. We value Monta Ellis tremendously and think he is a terrific player.”
Mindless Dribble: Draft day is coming up. What is the Warriors front office doing to prepare for June 23rd?
Larry Riley: “We’ve been preparing for the draft since the beginning of the season, not just over the last several weeks. We have several scouts and members of our Basketball Operations staff who have scoured the country—and the world—watching the top prospects for many, many months and years in some cases. As the draft gets closer, we have attended several multi-team workouts in various NBA cities, the NBA Draft combine in Chicago and various other workouts. In June, we have started to hold workouts exclusively for our brass at our practice facility in Oakland. Those workouts will last for the next few days leading up to the draft next Thursday. Additionally, our scouts will arrive in Oakland later this week and we’ll begin to have in-depth meetings and conversations.”
Mindless Dribble: Some people question the talent pool available in this years draft. Where do you think this draft class stands in comparison to previous years? Are there any players who have really impressed the Warriors?
Larry Riley: ” It seems as though in recent years the overall outlook of the drafts have been considered relatively weak. I would certainly not say that this draft is really strong, but I do think there are some pretty good prospects, even though several potential lottery picks remained in school. The bottom line is that there will be several good players in this draft when you look back on it five years down the line. It’s our job to find a couple of players who can help our team, either now or in the future, when it comes time for us to select. We hope to do that on June 23.”
After bringing in “the logo” Jerry West in as a consultant and hiring Mark Jackson as the head coach, the Warriors have already begun making some changes in order to put the team back in the postseason next year. With a new coaching staff in place, and the direction of West, look for the Warriors to make a splash on draft night, as they try to regain some of the momentum they had during the “We Believe” year of 2007. After seeing the Mavericks recover from getting knocked out by the Dubs in ’07, it is now time for the Warriors to find their way back into the playoffs.
For more 2011 NBA draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated NBA mock drafts, B/R's Big Board of Recruits, NBA draft rumors, NBA draft results and draft grades.
