2013 NBA Draft: Why the Golden State Warriors Should Trade for a Draft Pick
Mar 31, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry (30) drives against Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva (3) in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional of the 2013 NCAA tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
It’s that time of year again. School’s out, sunshine beaming, sand and waves glistening, and, oh yeah, the NBA Draft. The Warriors are not banking on the next Ike Diogu or Todd Fuller (yes, I’m taking it there) to turn around the franchise because the Warriors don’t have any picks in next month’s draft. They would have had the 21st pick in the 1st round, if it wasn’t for the Marcus Williams trade.
Some experts have labeled the upcoming draft class as weak. With the exceptions of Nerlens Noel and Ben McLemore, there aren’t too many big names. However, this is good news for the Warriors, who don’t need franchise players; they need role players, and teams may be more willing to trade draft picks. With the free agency period beginning days after the NBA Draft, the Warriors should take a proactive approach to possibly replace Carl Landry and/or Jarrett Jack.
As GM Bob Myers have mentioned, a draft pick makes a lot of sense because you’re acquiring assets and talent subjected to rookie contracts. If the Warriors can identify a player who can immediately contribute off the bench, ala a Draymond Green, they should at least try to trade for a draft pick. However, if they don’t, they could also take a page out of the Spurs’ proven playbook by drafting international players and stocking them overseas for a few years. The Warriors starting lineup is set, now they just need to solidify the bench. Other than free agency, the draft is a great way to acquire assets.
Depending on what happens to Jarrett Jack, the biggest hole to fill is the backup floor general. Do the Warriors look for a combo guard who has ballhandling skills or should they go after a true point guard? After glancing at some mock drafts, some intriguing names are slotted at the end of the 2nd round (St. Mary’s Matthew Dellavedova, Louisville’s Peyton Siva, and Missouri’s Phil Pressey). Oddly enough, one name I did not see was Duke’s Seth Curry. I’m surprised he’s not on any mock drafts, and I believe he’s worth a shot even if he’s half as good as his brother. Who knows, the actual Curry brothers (Steph and Seth) may be even better than the Splash Brothers (Steph and Klay).