One of those players, PJ Washington, has a direct link to Ball in the past. While speaking with the media following being selected, Ball discussed his excitement to join the Pelicans young core.
“I’m definitely excited,” he said. “I’ve been seeing them ever since I was young, for real. Miles (Bridges) at Michigan State and Huntington Beach and all that. And PJ, I played him when he was at Findlay (Prep). It’s going to be exciting. Two high-flyers that can get out and go and we got a young team. I feel like it’s going to be nice.”
A little bit of digging unearths evidence of a preseason preview between Chino Hills and Findlay Prep prior to the 2016-17 season. Chino Hills was coming off its unbeaten season in which they won the state title with all three Ball brothers. Findlay Prep was welcoming PJ Washington, a five-star recruit, to its program for his senior season.
There is no official box score from the meeting as it wasn’t an official contest. Findlay was able to knock off Chino Hills, 70-62, after a fast start to the game.
The contest featured the patented Chino Hills style of pressing and gambling defensively and hoisting threes offensively. A 16-year old LaMelo had some flashy plays and moments that impressed but largely looked like the kid most assumed he still was in 2020.
Washington, meanwhile, was a man amongst boys and often took advantage of Chino Hills gambling by hitting shots around the rim.
Marquette Golden Eagles star guard Markus Howard was the overall leading scorer in college basketball last season. Now, he looks to the NBA.
Marquette Golden Eagles star guard Markus Howard was the overall leading scorer in college basketball last season. Now, he looks to the NBA.
Howard is the next in the lineage of Marquette greats to enter the pros, following the likes of Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder and Wesley Matthews. The guard played his entire senior campaign at 20 years old, so even though he had four years of experience in the NCAA, he still has plenty of time to develop.
He spoke to USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire about getting better because he played with his older brothers, why he started Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Marquette — and plenty more.
Please note this interview was very minorly edited for brevity and clarity.
I imagine you’re getting a lot of NBA interest right now, a lot of NBA interviews. What’s the one thing you really want them to know about you?
MH: I want them to know the type of person I am and what I bring to the table. I think my basketball talent speaks for itself. I think the four years I had, in terms of productivity and continually getting better each year, I do that better than anybody else in this draft class. If they really do their homework, they will see that. But at the end of the day, it’s about a team having the right fit with you and having the right connection. I think the things that I did in college can translate to the NBA. I’m really hoping that teams see that as well. I think that I’ll have success at the next level based on the type of player I am and what I bring to the table. I’m hoping that teams feel the same way about me and have belief in me and have trust in me and in my abilities.
When you look back at your time at Marquette, what are some of the things that you’re going to remember, that you’ll think about right away?
Markus Howard: There are a lot of things I’ll think about. I look back on my time with the people I was around, the people I had the opportunity to come in contact with and the relationships I’ve built over time. I think about the growth I’ve had over four years being in a place like Marquette. On the basketball side of things, it was tremendous and it was a great experience. But I take the full experience of being a college student-athlete into account. The people that I was around every day, who helped mold me and shaped me into the person and player I am today, had a big part of why I chose to go to Marquette. I think back to the people who, along the way, have helped me and who have been like family to me. Those are the things I think about when I look back at my time.
You’re still pretty young, playing your entire senior year at just 20 years old. That means you had to start college when you very young. What was that like, starting college when you did?
MH: My experience of going to college was very unique because I was extremely young. I was 17 years old during my entire freshman year. I graduated high school a year early and went right to college. It was definitely a transition. I went through it on my own and had to figure out a lot of things on my own. I think my freshman year, that was the biggest growth I had. I had to experience and deal with so much at the time. I was in a new role in a transition going from high school to college. It was definitely tough, but I think looking back on it now, those are the times I was most grateful for because I was able to really find myself and find out who I wanted to be as a person in those tough times. My freshman year, really early in my career, was extremely hard. But it helped shape me so I’m always grateful for that.
Because you are younger than other seniors, I’m curious about some ways you think you might still be able to add things to your game.
MH: I think for me personally, in my game, I’m far from a finished product. I think my best basketball is still ahead of me. Basketball is a game that’s always evolving. I can always learn and get better. I’m nowhere near where I’m going to be down the road. That’s something that’s exciting for me as a player and something that I’m looking forward to, just getting better at the next level, being around high-level talent each and every day. I know when I’m surrounded by an atmosphere that requires a high level of intensity, attention to detail, and skill, that’s when the best things of my game will be shown. That’s just something I’m looking forward to at the next level. All aspects of the game, I can continue to get better at, so those are areas that I’m going to focus on at the next level.
I would love to hear a little bit about your comfort in the pick and roll as you head into your professional career.
MH: Being my size, pick and roll was extremely huge for me and our team. I’ve gotten better at each and every year. I know that at the next level, PnR is going to be used a lot. So having that in my toolbox and already in the back of my mind is something that I know will benefit me. I also think that playing with the great upgrade of talent around me will lift my game to the next level. Just to be able to have different options to create off a ball screen, and with the space that the game offers at the next level, that is something that I’ll really be looking forward to. There were times when I would have three or four guys, maybe even the whole team, keyed in on me. So to be able to be in a role where I probably won’t be the number one option on a team’s defensive scout will make it easier for me to work within a ball screen situation. I’m looking forward to attacking and being able to play with guys around me who will help the best of my game be shown.
I know you’re very efficient in transition as well. The NBA is going to be a lot faster. How do you think you’ll do in a more fast-paced offense?
MH: That’s the way I like to play offensively. I like to play fast. I like to play up-tempo, which is the trend the league is going in as well. It’s all going to be about being in the right situation. I thrive in transition, being able to shoot from far distances. I use my speed and acceleration. I think it’s going to all be about me in the right fit, the right system, adjusting to that speed of the NBA. I know when those things come together, I’ll be very successful. I definitely think I thrive in transition.
Even though you had one of the highest usage rates in college basketball, you were fantastic shooting off the catch as well. If you play more off-ball in the beginning of your career, how will you be able to make an impact?
A scouting note: Markus Howard might be the best shooter (catch and off dribble) I ever scouted (15 years). Shooting 55% from 3 this year.
MH: A lot of what I was able to do over my four years at Marquette was based on the role that my coach needed from me. When I started my college career, I was more of a role player. I was a guy that could create off the dribble, but primarily, I was a catch and shoot threat. I took a lot of pride in that. Whatever the coach needed me to do, I was going to do that to the best of my ability. I think whatever role I’m placed in, I’m going to attack it head-on and try to give it my best effort. I’m able to play on the ball or off the ball. I’ve had experience in both. That’s what makes me unique as a player. I’m very multifaceted. I’m not subject to one position. The way that the NBA is going now, smaller guards are making a big impact. I think that’s something that can be really unique and eye-opening to teams. I can do a lot of different things, even without having the ball in my hands. I can work off the ball. It could definitely be something that a team could use in the right way.
I thought you were especially incredible when shooting from dribble handoffs. What are some other ways you can be used off the ball?
MH: Being around veteran knowledge, especially bigs who have been established in the league, I can learn from the different coverages defensively as well as how they work within pick-and-roll sets. Being able to be around NBA bigs, I can start to read them on the fly. They can read me on the fly. I know the attention to detail that those individuals have is next-level. That is something I’m really looking forward to being a part of in the NBA. It is very important for every guard to have a great relationship with a big.
How would you describe your playmaking ability?
Markus Howard is the best scorer in the country, but his development as a playmaker recently has been evident. He's trusting his teammates more and dishing when he doesn't have a good look. His growth in that area is a big reason why Marquette has been playing so well lately.
MH: A lot of what I did offensively was overshadowed by the scoring I did. I’m a very underrated passer and creator for others. I think there are a lot of times, especially throughout my career, where I made great plays not only for myself but for others. That can get overshadowed with the high scoring numbers. I know at the next level, with my role being limited, I’m prepared to be a playmaker. I know that with the opportunities I’ll be given, I’ll need to use those to the best of my abilities to be sure I’m making the right play whether that is for myself or for others. I feel very confident in the fact with the way I’m able to get into the teeth of the defense, create off the dribble, be able to create for guys. I feel very confident in the ability I have, as well as being able to play with high-level talent in the NBA. It’s going to bring out the best of my gam. I have no doubt in my mind that I’ll be successful at being able to create not only for myself but for others at the next level.
What are some ways you think you’re able to overcome your height to be so effective?
MH: It’s just me not being afraid of anything. As a basketball player, I’m extremely confident in my abilities and how hard I work. When you have that, you shouldn’t really fear anything. It doesn’t matter my size. You continue to fight, continue to compete. That’s something I pride myself on and that’s always been a key part of the success I’ve had. I am just able to compete, no matter who it’s against.
You’re one of the most impressive scoring guards we have seen in college. How did you become such an elite finisher?
MH: A lot of it has to do with being the youngest of three boys. I have two older brothers, they are three and five years older than I am. I’ve been playing with them since I was young. I always had to fight for everything. I always played with them, too, I never played my age group when I played travel and AAU and things like that. So, playing against older competition from the time I was young, I played three and five years up. Just to have that from a young age, I was always advanced and I always excelled. It’s because I had to keep up. That was always something that as a player I could use to my advantage. I kept going higher in the ranks and going from high school to college, it was kind of the same thing. Playing at a high level, playing against players that really challenged me, that’s something that I’ve taken to my advantage ever since I was younger. Playing against and competing with my brothers on a daily basis, that lit a fire in me as a competitor. That’s just something that I use from a mindset standpoint every time I step on the court. A lot of that stems from having two older brothers and always having to fight for everything in my household.
Do you think that helped you become such a good one-on-one scorer in isolation as well?
MH: I tried to be as creative as I could in a tight space. That’s something we would always lock in and focus on. Our backyard, growing up, wasn’t always the biggest. We didn’t have a lot of space like a normal court. You had to make the most with the most room you had. So I was always trying to be as creative as I could to try and get my shot off or try to create space. That’s something that I really value. Especially with my size, I had to make sure that was a big point of emphasis in my game, trying to be able to create with the abilities that I have. That’s something I attribute to when I was younger, always playing against my brothers, doing a little extra just because they were bigger and stronger and faster than I am. I had to make up for that.
How do you think that experience will help shape you as a younger NBA player coming into the league, playing against bigger and older players right away?
MH: It’s a mindset. I’ve always had the mindset I’ve had, from when I was a freshman until when I was a senior, even when I was one of the best players in the country. I still had that mindset. Each contest, I went out to compete. It didn’t matter who I was going up against, what team, what player, division. In my mind, I was always going against my brothers because those were the toughest battles that I ever faced growing up. Those are the kind of battles that always tested me and helped me grow as a player and as a person, going against them. I’m just going to use that mentality every time I sit on the court. Even at the next level, it doesn’t matter who it’s up against, I’m always going to have that mindset and that competitive fire that I’ve had ever since I was a young kid.
What is it like when you play basketball against your brothers now?
Potential All-American & @MarquetteMBB guard Markus Howard has a regimented offseason workout schedule & trains with his brother Desmond.
MH: It’s a lot of the same: very competitive, very high intensity. But it’s different because they can’t bully me like they used to be able to do. They like to think that they can, but they just can’t anymore. That’s always fun. There are no two people that can make me better than my older brothers. I love to compete and those two bring out the best in me and in my game. I’m very fortunate to have two older brothers to be able to play basketball with and against. The competitions we have to this day are always fun and really intense. I love it.
I love hearing it! What are some of the roles that you can see yourself having in the NBA?
MH: There is only so much I can control. It is really about a team and a coach believing in me and trusting in my abilities. I think whatever a team or coach needs me to do, I’m going to do that to the best of my ability, whether that is having a starring role or whether that is being a scorer off the bench or if that is just being a great locker room guy. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m going to try to do that to the best of my ability. I know that being in the NBA is a privilege. It is an honor. I’m going to embrace this every day, having this as my job is definitely something that I want.
Are there any player comparisons that you have heard for yourself that you like?
Overheard some of the @utahjazz players at the #mubb game comparing Markus Howard to Kemba Walker… Honestly, not a bad comparison and I could see that panning out if he gets a shot in the NBA
MH: Some I’ve heard are guys like Kemba Walker, Kyle Lowry, Patty Mills, Fred Van Vleet, DJ Augustin. Those are all guys that I’ve watched and who I continue to watch and pattern my game after. Those are some guys who are similar to me and my skill set. Those are the guys I watch the most around the NBA.
When you got your degree from Marquette, what did you end up studying?
MH: I studied digital media and I minored in advertising. I worked with cameras here and there. I liked working in a TV studio broadcasting environment. Down the road, sports broadcasting could be something that I would like to do. I’ve learned a lot about the advertising and marketing side of things, too. Especially in sports, that is very important. I try to use the things I learned in school now that I’m a professional. I try to entangle those things in my daily life. I’m extremely fortunate and grateful to have had a great four years academically and educationally at Marquette. I was able to learn from a lot of great people. Hopefully, I can use those in my professional career as well.
What advice would you give to DJ Carton and other players that are entering the Marquette program next year?
MH: I’ve told them on countless occasions, and I would continue to tell them, that they made the right decision. Be more than a basketball player. Enjoy the entire experience of being a student-athlete at Marquette. It is truly a special place. Be more than the game. I have such deep ties to and such an appreciation for Marquette. I did a good job of making it more than just about basketball. I think, being at a place like Marquette, it’s really like family because of the people around it. I embrace those relationships every day because it’s truly a special place. It’s one that I’ll cherish for as long as I live because of everything that it’s given me and everything it’s provided me. Those are all things I can take with me for the rest of my life. Those are all things I’ve said to them before and what I would say to them even if they were here right now with me.
I love that advice. What are some other things that you were involved with on campus at Marquette?
MH: I was definitely very active on campus in different student-athlete groups like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). I was also on a student athletic advisory committee. I was on that committee for about two years. And then any kind of campus outreach I could do. I tried to always be active in terms of community service and just trying to be sure I was getting out in the community. I didn’t want to be the stigma of a basketball player. I just played basketball went to school, and that was it. I tried to immerse myself as much as I could into the Marquette community, and it’s something I’m very proud of.
I also want to touch base with you a little bit about your high school experience going to Findlay Prep. You have a lot of teammates either currently in the NBA or will be in the NBA hopefully, soon, including several guys in this class. How did that experience help shape you to become such an elite competitor?
(AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
MH: It was a great experience being at Findlay and being around guys like PJ Washington and Oshae Brissett and Skylar Mays and Lamine Diane every day in practice. I got to practice against so many guys that would go on to play in the NBA. As a competitor, I enjoyed that. I loved it. We had such a competitive spirit each and every day in practice. That is what made me want to go there. It prepared me for going to college, being able to be at that intensity each and every day against high-level players. It was definitely a big part of my development, my growth, and I was happy to be able to do it.
What are some of the things that you like to do now when you’re not playing basketball?
MH: I like spending time with my family, resting, recovering, watching movies, playing cards. I’m pretty laid back, even if we weren’t in this quarantine, I’d be doing the same things besides training. I’m hanging out, laying low. I just like to spend time with my family. That is pretty much how I’ve always been.
Do you have any goals for yourself either on or off the basketball court?
MH: For both, continue to get better and grow. I think in anything, especially in life, that’s all you can aspire to do is to grow, to get better. It can translate to basketball. That’s something that I think if I take that step each day, I’ll continue to get better, continue to grow. It could only lead to success. That’s all I focus on each and every day.
Charlotte Hornets rookie forward PJ Washington represents an interesting case study of what to look for when evaluating an NBA prospect.
Charlotte Hornets rookie forward PJ Washington represents an interesting case study of what to look for when evaluating an NBA prospect.
When studying Washington, who was selected at No. 12 overall in the 2019 NBA draft, his ascension to representing the United States at the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend in Chicago is particularly fascinating. He has excelled in areas that he was not tasked with while playing in college, an important trait to remember when scouting future prospects. Players are not a representation of what they have done but also what they potentially can do.
So for those who have played alongside Washington, his recent successes have hardly been a surprise considering his dynamic and versatile skill set.
“I’ve been playing against and with him since, like, eighth grade,” Hornets guard Malik Monk told HoopsHype. “I knew that he was going to do this. A lot of people didn’t know he could shoot. But he didn’t have to show that at Kentucky. Now he does because he is a stretch-four.”
During his two collegiate seasons for the Wildcats, for example, the forward hit just 0.7 three-pointers per 40 minutes. Washington then set the record for most three-pointers hit during an NBA debut, connecting on seven baskets from beyond the arc during his first professional regular season game.
.@PJWashington’s five 3-pointers ties the record for most 3PM in a career debut!
“It’s been easy for me because at this level it’s pretty much just reads,” the rookie told HoopsHype. “You’re basically taking what the defense gives you. Obviously, at the beginning of the season, they were giving me three-pointers so I was taking them. But now they are hugged up on me so I drive more and get my teammates involved a bit more.”
His shooting has been one of the most pleasant surprises for Washington, who has shown that the things you can accomplish at the NBA level should not just be projected based on what was shown while in the NCAA. Often, college basketball players play a role based on their coach and system. That does not mean they will end up filling the same type of expectation as a pro.
Perhaps the most key indicators of that for Washington has been his usage in pick-and-roll sets. Before the draft, for example, he was criticized for lacking much “explosiveness in traffic, which means he won’t be much of a pick-and-roll threat to throw down lobs or finish with power.”
As a sophomore in 2018-19, embedded above, the forward actually finished just one possession as the roll man on PnR possessions for Kentucky.
“But he always pays attention to plays and during practice,” former Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist told HoopsHype. “He just always wants to learn. As soon as the guy was drafted, he learned how to reinvent himself like a true Kentucky player.”
Monk and former Charlotte forward Kidd-Gilchrist, who also attended Kentucky, explain that the Wildcats don’t run pick-and-roll because head coach John Calipari relies on give-and-go opportunities, running up and down the court for easy baskets.
“He was primarily a post-up guy, elbow guy in college,” Charlotte head coach James Borrego told HoopsHype. “But we’re a pick-and-roll team, so he’s a pick-and-roll player.”
PJ Washington is a versatile offensive weapon: slips the pick with Graham, drives into a weak-side DHO with Rozier which turns into a skinny side pick-and-roll, then the touch to finish over Sabo. pic.twitter.com/GkV2945zhK
This has been a defining trait for Charlotte as only two NBA teams (Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors) have finished possessions for the roll man in the pick-and-roll more often than the Hornets, per Synergy. Washington has also finished more than twenty percent of his possessions on pick-and-roll plays, a ridiculously big improvement since his final NCAA season.
Borrego notes that Washington fits in well because he can pop, roll and be a playmaker on these possessions. Monk calls him a “triple threat” because of all that Washington can accomplish on these plays.
Washington has scored 2.6 points per game when rolling to the basket in PnR sets, which ranks Top 15 among all players in the Eastern Conference.
“His ability to shoot the ball really stretches teams. They have to figure out what they do with this pick-and-roll. If they switch him, he has the ability to go to the post,” added Borrego. “But he has the ability to roll in that pocket and finish and make plays for others.”
For example, the two-man game between Washington and second-year guard Devonte’ Graham has been one of the more defining traits of the season for the Hornets.
“It is kind of easy playing pick-and-roll with Graham because he is always going to make the right plays. He is taking good shots, finding his teammates. He gets to the rim with ease. All I have to do is set the screen and roll and he is going to make the best play.”
The numbers look good, too, as the Charlotte guard is currently shooting an impressive 23-for-55 (41.8 percent) on his three-point attempts after passes from Washington.
PJ Washington rises for the dunk of the PnR. Another underrated pass from Devonte'. pic.twitter.com/O0OpD7MTkm
“It’s a dangerous combination: a guy that can shoot off the bounce and a big that can shoot and stretch it,” said Borrego. “He has the ability to roll with Devonte or pop with Devonte. I trust them and think they both make the right decision more times than not.”
Graham, meanwhile, already has 70 assists to Washington so far this season. Charlotte has scored 107.4 points per 100 possessions with both players on the court. That is their second-best offensive rating (minimum: 500 minutes) among all of their two-man lineup combinations so far this season.
Overall, the development of Washington has been a tremendously positive update for Charlotte. The fact that he has been able to step into an offense that runs so many pick-and-roll sets with ease has been especially fantastic.
“He is a dynamic young pick-and-roll player,” added Borrego. “I probably need to use him a little bit more in pick-and-roll.”
PJ Washington entered play on December 14 as one of only three Hornets who started every game this season. His streak will end on Sunday.
The Charlotte Hornets received some unwelcomed news on Saturday, as rookie P.J. Washington has been ruled out for the team’s next five games with a fractured finger. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Washington sustained the injury during the Hornets’ 83-73 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. The rookie fractured the fifth metacarpal on his right hand during the fourth quarter of the contest.
Along with second-year man Devonte’ Graham, Washington has been one of the few bright spots in Charlotte this season, as the rookie has started all 28 contests for the Hornets before being ruled out for Sunday’s game. He enters play on Dec. 14 having averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, connecting on 41 percent of his 3-point looks to this point.
Charlotte Hornets rookie F P.J. Washington is expected to be sidelined through Christmas with fractured finger, league sources tell ESPN. The Hornets play five games in that stretch. He's averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Without Washington, the Hornets will be challenged, as the club will have to look elsewhere to fill the minutes and repetitions left in his stead.
Fortunately for the Hornets, Washington — based on Wojnarowski’s reporting — could return to action prior to the beginning of 2020. For what it’s worth, Washington’s injury was to his pinky finger, but being that the former Kentucky Wildcat shoots with his right hand, it doesn’t bode as positive news.
The Hornets will thus be shorthanded when they tip-off against Indiana on Sunday.
Playing against Luka Docic, Ja Morant and Trae Young will give the Golden State Warriors a glimpse of what having a modern lottery pick could look like.
Over the past five seasons, the Golden State Warriors have been a team focused on the now. But without star power filling the void of injured players and one of the worst records in the NBA, it’s time to look to the future.
The Dubs have a few interesting young pieces, but that’s where it ends— a few. Eric Paschall, Ky Bowman and Omari Spellman all have flashed promise at times. But none were blue-chip prospects built to lead the Warriors into the future.
Over recent NBA drafts, there’s been an influx of exciting youngsters bursting into the league. The players available at the top of the NBA draft haven’t garnered much attention in the Bay Area because most fans were focused on Golden State playing deep into the postseason.
With the Warriors currently scheduled to be at the top of the NBA draft lottery, teams with young talent might provide some perspective.
When teams like the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers popped up on the schedule, Warriors fans were excited. Now, teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies (whom the Warriors will play over the next month) could give fans a glimpse at what having a modern lottery pick will look like.
On the current road trip, the Warriors already played the New Orleans Pelicans, who spent the first overall pick in 2019 on Zion Williamson out of Duke. Due to injury, Williamson hasn’t made his debut yet, but that doesn’t mean the Dubs won’t get a shot at a top pick soon.
The Warriors head to Dallas to face phenom Luka Doncic. The Slovenian isn’t only one of the league’s most talented youngsters, he’s one of the league’s most exciting players overall. The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 30.6 points, 10.3 assists and 11.6 rebounds per game in November. What doesn’t show on the stat sheet is how Doncic controls the game for the Mavs. He’s a true court general with the swagger that looks like he’s going to cause problems in the Western Conference for years to come.
Luca Doncic. That’s the tweet. That’s it @SONTHoops
After Doncic, the Warriors will get a taste of the favorite for the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year award: Ja Morant, another impressive point guard who is leading Memphis into a new era of “grit and grind.” Similar to Doncic, Morant’s feel for the game is that of a veteran. He has the confidence and swagger of a veteran. If you doubt him, he’ll make you pay.
Over the next 10 games, the Warriors will get to see a bevy of recent lottery picks, also including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyler Herro, Coby White, Lauri Markkanen, Markelle Fultz, PJ Washington, Malik Monk and, for the grand finale, Trae Young. All players picked in the top 13 with the average age of 20.5, Markkanen is the old man of the group, at 22. Paschall, Bowman and Spellman are all 22 or older, with Jordan Poole the only Warrior under 21.
As exciting as it is to play against All-Stars like LeBron James, James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo, it’s important to gauge the type of talent the Warriors could be getting in the June draft. If Golden State’s season finishes on its current trajectory, the Warriors will have a chance to acquire a talent similar to Doncic, Morant or Young.
