Golden State Warriors Finding Ways To Pull Rabbits Out Of Their Hats

The Golden State Warriors entered the 2017 NBA Draft without a pick to their names – and yet, still managed to come away a little bit better.

It’s almost not fair. Almost. The Golden State Warriors are a perfect example of the rich getting richer. It’s how they’re getting richer that’s really fascinating – and probably entirely frustrating for the other teams around the league.

Teams chasing the Warriors have got to be tearing their hair out over the fact that other teams continue allowing Golden State to belly up to the buffet line and fatten themselves up seemingly a little more every year.

Thanks to a rule in the NBA that allows teams to essentially buy second-round draft picks straight up for cash, the Warriors have been able to keep enriching themselves.

Last year, they bought the thirty-eighth overall pick from the Milwaukee Bucks and took Patrick McCaw. And if you watched the NBA Finals this year, you know that McCaw had a pretty tangible impact on the court.

This year, they lobbed a call to the Chicago Bulls and inquired about paying for the thirty-eighth overall pick again. The Bulls – seemingly adrift, rudderless, and without any sort of coherent direction – agreed to sell the pick to Golden State for a cool $3.5 million.

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And with the thirty-eighth overall pick, the Warriors obtained Oregon’s Jordan Bell – somebody they believe actually has first round talent and had secretly been coveting.

Golden State had a total of eighteen prospects in for pre-draft workouts. Three groups of six players each worked out for the Warriors and (now) conspicuously absent from any of the three groups was Bell.

Hey, why telegraph your interest and risk getting scooped, right?

Regardless of how it happened – and many are gnashing their teeth at the fact that it did happen – Jordan Bell is now a member of the Golden State Warriors.

So, what are the reigning NBA champs getting in Bell?

Well, for the very affordable $3.5 million it cost them to acquire him, the Warriors are getting a 6’7”, 190 pound forward whose defensive prowess has drawn comparisons to Warriors stalwart Draymond Green. Bell also added 10.9 points as well as 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 rebounds per game as a junior up in Eugene.

His versatility and physical ability is an asset the Warriors can use as they look to defend their title. And with big contracts coming up for some of their stars – most notably Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, among others – the Warriors are going to have to defend their crown in a relatively fiscally conservative fashion.

Bell is very likely going to blend right in with the Warriors and add to their already loaded arsenal of weaponry. And with Green serving as a mentor of sorts, look for Bell to be a productive force early on.

With a sleight of hand that would make David Blaine stand in awe, the Warriors once again spun straw into gold. Without a draft pick to their name – for the second straight year – Golden State reached into their hat and pulled out a rabbit. One that could have a solid impact on this team in the coming year.

Golden State, in addition to being kings of this league, have also become the NBA’s master magicians. Time and time again, they’re able to make something out of nothing. Much to the chagrin of many around the league.

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The Warriors are already fat – and are getting even fatter. But by making moves like buying into the second round to take an impact player – again – the organization shows it’s still got quite the appetite for success.

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