Warriors reportedly eyeing 7 or 8 prospects in 2020 NBA Draft

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly zeroing in on seven or eight prospects in the first round of the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft.

The Golden State Warriors are in full draft preparation mode as they and the rest of the league are on an indefinite hiatus. Fortunately for them, they’re set to select much higher than most other teams in the NBA.

At the moment, they hold the best odds for the No. 1 overall pick as they finished what could very well be the end of the regular season with a 15-50 record — good for last place in the league.

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That means that all eyes are on the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, whenever that will be. Although provisionally scheduled for late June, it will almost surely be pushed back due to the ongoing struggles with COVID-19.

Regardless, the Warriors are certainly taking this time to do their homework.

In a recent interview with local radio station KNBR on Thursday, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr detailed the team’s current plans for the draft. Kerr stated that the team was focusing on seven or eight draft prospects at this time.

Of course, they won’t know exactly where they select until the lottery takes place. But they do know they’ll be selecting very early — no later than fifth in the first round.

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This year’s class is considered to be a relatively weak one, especially compared to last year’s that featured Zion Williamson and Ja Morant at the top.

At the moment, there is no consensus top prospect, but the name most heavily discussed as the potential No. 1 overall pick appears to be Georgia guard Anthony Edwards.

Edwards is a powerful shooting guard with an excellent shooting touch. He has all the physical traits to be a star in the NBA, but he needs to become more consistent on both ends of the floor. Still, he might have the highest ceiling out of anyone in this class.

Then there’s LaMelo Ball who will be discussed as much for his family pedigree as he will his actual talent. But at 6-foot-7, Ball has incredible size for a point guard and he’s likely the best ball handler and facilitator in the class.

However, the fit with the Warriors doesn’t make much sense given his lack of consistent scoring ability, his unpolished defense, and, of course, the position he plays.

Two other players who have been mocked to the Warriors in recent weeks and months are Memphis center James Wiseman and Dayton power forward Obi Toppin.

Wiseman is in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick and is likely the best true big-man in this class. He’s everything you want in a modern-day center given his athleticism and explosiveness at the rim.

The Warriors need a center more than any other position, but they might not feel Wiseman is worth a top selection.

Toppin, on the other hand, recently made headlines after his parents insisted that he wanted to play in the Bay Area. The redshirt sophomore shined at Dayton this season and has the athleticism and defensive instincts to be a great fit in the Warrior system.

That said, while the instincts are there, he still has room to grow as a defender. Plus, the power forward position is already quite crowded with Draymond Green and standout rookie Eric Paschall.

Where would Toppin fit in?

The Warriors will have their options and it’s likely that all of the names mentioned here are a part of the team’s seven or eight finalists.

But who will they actually take? Unfortunately, we’ll likely have to wait longer than usual to find out.

Let the speculation run wild!