Golden State Warriors: Nemanja Nedovic, Aaron Craft, or Seth Curry?

Aaron Craft

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O

Craft played at Ohio State for four years, and he built up quite the résumé. He’s a four-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection (2011–2014), a two-time All-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014), a two-time Academic All-American of the Year (2013–2014), the 2013 Big Ten Tournament MVP, and the 2014 NABC Defensive Player of the Year. Despite all these impressive accomplishments, he went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft.

The biggest complaint about Craft’s game is his lack of offense. He doesn’t have a consistent jump shot, he’s a little undersized as a point guard, and he’s somewhat turnover-prone.

However, he has great leadership, toughness, determination, and defensive skill. He’s a smart player, and he certainly knows how to harass other point guards and disrupt an opponent’s offense.

Before the NBA Draft, Craft spoke of his strengths and weaknesses to Ohio.com. He even mentioned a Warriors player.

"“We all wish we could shoot like Steph Curry,” Craft said. “But that’s just not the case.” … “My calling card has been defense since I’ve been playing basketball,” he said. “That’s what I’m going to continue to lean on. That’s what I do.”"

Craft played with the Philadelphia 76ers in the Orlando Summer League, and he played with the Warriors in the Las Vegas Summer League. Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Warriors and the Warriors’ Summer League team, was extremely impressed with Craft.

Craft might be a better fit for the Warriors than Nedovic is, given his defensive mindset and the fact that he could come into games in certain situations to shut down a team’s point guard at key moments, like what Kent Bazemore used to do. It’s unclear if the Warriors will decline Nedovic’s option and extend a guaranteed contract to Craft, but they could certainly offer Craft a training camp invite if he doesn’t sign with another team.