With the NBA Finals complete, the basketball world has turned its attention to draft night. At the center of it all is the Golden State Warriors.
After recording the league’s worst record at 15-50, Golden State will be on the clock with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Although they started their offseason early with no invite to the Orlando Bubble, there’s still little clarity on what the Warriors could do on Nov. 18.
Will Steve Kerr and Bob Myers trade the pick? If they keep the selection, do they add a prospect that can help in a win-now situation or opt for a player with long-term potential?
As the draft season heats up, mock drafts are rolling out predictions for Golden State’s highly-anticipated top pick. In Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock draft for The Ringer, the Warriors picked Israel’s Deni Avdija with the No. 2 selection. According to O’Connor, the Warriors would be getting a versatile playmaker with a high basketball IQ.
Via The Ringer:
The Warriors will likely target a wing in the draft, according to league sources. Avdija makes sense as a target due to his versatility, playmaking, and high basketball IQ, all qualities that helped Golden State reach five straight NBA Finals. Many league executives expect Avdija to enter the mainstream conversation as a top-three pick as the draft approaches; in a class full of uncertainties, Avdija really only needs to improve his jumper to make a longtime impact.
Read O’Connor’s full mock draft via The Ringer here.
In his last season with Maccabi Tel Aviv, the 19-year-old averaged 7.7 points on 52% shooting from the field with 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.7 minutes per contest.
Watching Deni Avdija do everything is fun basketball. pic.twitter.com/4UMvoWedhC
— Tommy Call III (@tommy_III) July 7, 2020
In the Warriors Wire NBA Draft Big Board, the 6-foot-9 prospect landed at No. 9 on the list.
Via The Warriors Wire Big Board:
Avdija can slot as a wing and give the Warriors yet another playmaker on the floor. If he continues to improve his defense, he could fill a role similar to what Andre Iguodala did, though realistically at a lower level of play. With excellent passing and vision, he shows the traits of a dangerous player, especially if he can get down that 3-point shot.
The addition of Avdija could give Kerr another playmaking option alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. With the Splash Brothers off the floor, Avdija’s ability to control the pace and handle the ball with comfort could prove valuable with Eric Paschall in Golden State’s second unit.
When Deni has the ball in transition, keep your head up.
pic.twitter.com/B5niskmaRA— Tommy Call III (@tommy_III) March 28, 2020
Before they’re on the clock on Nov. 18, the Warriors will have one more month of an extended draft season to narrow down their plan for the No. 2 pick.
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