30 Teams, 30 Days: Golden State Draft Preview

RealGM Analysis

Jun 10, 2008 10:47 AM

2007-2008 Finish: 48-34
2008 Draft Picks: 14th, 49th

Pre-Draft 2008-09 Projected Starters:
PG Baron Davis
SG Monta Ellis
SF Stephen Jackson
PF Al Harrington
C Andris Biedrins
Key Reserves:
SG Kelenna Azuibuike
SG Marco Belinelli
PF Brandan Wright

What the Warriors Do Well:

The Warriors were the best team in NBA history not to reach the postseason. Who would have thought that 48 wins wouldn?t be enough to even sneak into the playoffs? The team rallied around Nellie-ball all season long but didn?t have enough to carry themselves ahead of the Denver Nuggets for a second straight first round visit.

The three-headed dragon of Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, and Stephen Jackson led the Warrior team with an equally distributed (21.8, 20.2, 20.1 ppg respectively) 62.1 points per game. This triumvirate was potent not only in the points department but also all over the floor. Davis led the team with 7.6 assists per game, but Jackson (4.1) and Ellis (3.9) weren?t far behind. Ellis, however, ? the smallest of the three ? surprisingly led the trio with 5.0 rebounds per game, just edging out Davis (4.7) and Jackson (4.4).

On the glass, Andris Biedrins had a solid season. He led the team with 9.8 rebounds and 1.24 blocks per game. The combination of his spiky gelled hair and relentless pursuit of loose balls made him a fan favorite in the Bay Area.

Brandan Wright had a strong finish to his rookie campaign. On the season, he averaged a modest 4.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks per game in only 9.9 minutes. However, when given the chance to play 18 and 19 minutes in back-to-back games at the end of February, Wright responded with a 12-point, 7-rebound, 3-block game followed by a 13-point, 7-rebound, 1-block game in back-to-back wins.

Greatest Areas of Improvement:

An Actual Low Block Scorer
The Warriors don?t possess many gifted scorers on the inside. Al Harrington prefers to play like a small forward, and Andris Biedrins thrives on rebounding and putting back missed shots. The Warriors dealt for Brandan Wright last year, but he will need some help if the Warriors plan to put more points on the board from their big guys.

Bigger Humans Inside
The front court men on the Warrior squad are not very big. Harrington, Wright, and Biedrins are all very tall and lean, and the Warriors have been lacking girth since the departure of Adonal Foyle and?well, Erick Dampier years ago. The roster has been put together to fly up and down the court in Coach Nelson?s system, but having a big body would definitely help when playing teams like Phoenix and San Antonio.

Who?s Gone Number 14 Recently?

Over the past five years, solid players have dropped to the 14th slot. Al Thornton was a steal last year, and Ronnie Brewer has a solid sophomore season that warrants putting his name into a potential steal category.

2007
Al Thornton, Los Angeles Clippers

2006
Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz

2005
Rashad McCants, Minnesota Timberwolves

2004
Kris Humphries, Utah Jazz

2003
Luke Ridnour, Seattle Supersonics

Who Should the Warriors Target?

For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players that the Warriors should target in this year?s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina?s Prospect Report piece.

- Darrell Arthur of Kansas

Darrell Arthur is a natural power forward and would be the perfect addition to this current Warrior roster. He would team with Brandan Wright to be one of the more talented youthful frontcourt tandems in the league. His ability to score from within 15 feet would fit nicely in Nelson?s system, and his athleticism would enable him to keep up with the Warriors fast-paced style of play.

- Kevin Love of UCLA

Kevin Love is a California kid who would also be an ideal fit in Nelson?s system. His already-legendary outlet passing would key the Golden State fast break, and his ruggedness in the paint would be a welcomed addition to a team whose big men are often labeled soft.

- Marreese Speights of Florida

If one of the aforementioned two big men are off the board, the Warriors' brass need to keep their fingers crossed that the Florida power forward slips down to the 14th spot. Speights has the tools to become a dominant post player and could end up being a steal this late in the first round.

Who Do the Fans Want?

According to Andrew Perna?s Golden State Lottery Summit, an interactive column featuring the responses of true RealGM hoops fans hoping to add their two cents to the Warrior Draft discussion, the fans of Golden State have made it known that they would an upgrade at the power forward position. The consensus of the Warrior faithful suggested whom they want as the fourteenth overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft:

Kevin Love, PF ? UCLA

Picks Over the Past Five Years

The Warriors seem to be getting worse at this Draft thing over the past few seasons. They were red-hot with the selections of Mickael Pietrus and Andris Biedrins. Then they reached nirvana grabbing Monta Ellis in the second round of 2005, but the last two years have come up short, where Patrick O?Bryant is a punch-line, and Marco Belinelli?s greatest stretch of the season was in the summer league.

2007
Marco Belinelli, 18th
Jermareo Davidson, 36th
Stephane Lasme, 46th

2006
Patrick O?Bryant, 9th
Kosta Perovic, 38th

2005
Ike Diogu, 9th
Monta Ellis, 40th
Chris Taft, 42nd

2004
Andris Biedrins, 11th

2003
Mickael Pietrus, 11th
Derrick Zimmerman, 40th

Previous Editions of the 30 Teams, 30 Days Series

Whmo do you want the Warriors to draft at number 14? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.

Tags: NBA

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