As the basketball world turns their attention to the restart of NBA action, it’s time for the Golden State Warriors to flip the page to draft prep.
The Warriors season officially ended after they became one of eight teams to be left on the outside of the Orlando Bubble. While their season may be over, Golden State’s 15-50 record has set them up for a high draft pick. For the first time since 2002, the Golden State Warriors will have the opportunity to make a selection in the top-five picks.
With months on the calendar until the Warriors are on the clock for their first-round pick, mock drafts are heating up with predictions for what Bob Myers and Steve Kerr could do.
In the latest mock draft from Jason McIntyre of Fox Sports, the Golden State Warriors landed USC’s Onyeka Okongwu with the first overall pick. According to McIntyre, the duo of Okongwu and Draymond Green would give the Warriors a “ferocious defensive tandem inside.”
Via Fox Sports:
The Warriors have the potential to be the third-best team in the West next season, and they will need perimeter defenders. Draymond Green and Okongwu would be a ferocious defensive tandem inside.
Read McIntyre’s full 4.0 mock draft here.
In the Warriors Wire Draft Big Board, the USC product came in at No. 3 overall.
Warriors Wire Big Board: A look at the 2020 NBA Draft prospectshttps://t.co/BCvhNNllvB
— Warriors Wire (@TheWarriorsWire) July 4, 2020
On his way to First-Team All-Pac-12 honors, the 19-year-old averaged 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per contest. As a freshman, Okongwu led the Trojans in scoring, rebounds and blocks.
With questions around Kevon Looney’s injury history, Okongwu could solidify Golden State’s frontcourt alongside Marquese Chriss. The 6-foot-9 could immediately contribute as an explosive lob threat in the middle of Kerr’s offense. On the defensive end, Okongwu uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan to protect the rim.
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The former California Mr. Basketball winner stuffed four or more blocks in 14 games during his freshman campaign in Southern California. Against Florida A&M, Okongwu recorded a near triple-double with 20 points, 13 boards and a career-high eight blocks.
If the Warriors decide to use their pick on a different big-man prospect, other options include Memphis’ James Wiseman, Maryland’s Jalen Smith, Minnesota’s Daniel Oturo and DePaul’s Paul Reed.
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With an extended offseason ahead of them, the Warriors will have plenty of time to do their homework on the 2020 frontcourt.
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