As the chance of a title is still on the books for teams inside the Orlando Bubble, the Golden State Warriors have advanced to draft season on the NBA calendar. After registering the league’s worst record at 15-50, the Warriors earned a top-five pick in the 2020 edition of the draft.
Following the NBA Draft Lottery, the Warriors landed the No. 2 selection on the board. With the order set, mock drafts are beginning to roll out with predictions for what Bob Myers and Steve Kerr will do when the Warriors are on the clock.
Prior to the lottery, Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton, Israel’s Deni Avdija, Memphis’ James Wiseman and USC’s Onyeka Okongwu have been listed alongside the Warriors in mock drafts.
In Jonathan Givony of ESPN’s Post-Lottery Mock, the Warriors landed an explosive young wing piece. After the Minnesota Timberwolves selected LaMelo Ball with the first mock selection, Givony slotted Georgia’s Anthony Edwards to the Warriors at No. 2.
According to Givony, the 19-year-old would add instant offense alongside Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins.
Via ESPN.com:
Edwards would add instant offense to an already high-powered nucleus with his ability to get downhill and rise up from anywhere on the floor. Small-ball lineups featuring Stephen Curry, Edwards, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green would blend skill and versatility. Edwards also has the long-term upside to grow into the face of the franchise down the line. His freshman season was inconsistent, but he is powerful with tremendous shot-making prowess and has significant upside to grow into on both ends of the floor.
View Givony’s full ESPN mock draft here.
On his way to earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors, Edwards averaged 19.1 points per game on 40.2% shooting from the field with 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. If he slips past the Timberwolves, Edwards would add a downhill slashing dynamic to Kerr’s rotation. While he develops, Edwards could pair with sophomore Eric Paschall as Golden State’s lead duo off the bench.
With the NBA and NBPA agreeing to push back the draft that was slated for October 16, the Golden State Warriors will have more time for homework before they hit the clock on draft day.
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