After A Quiet 2014 Draft Day, Attention Turns Towards Warriors Free Agent Targets (Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account)
The 2014 #NBADraft came and went without any draft moves or trades by the Golden State Warriors yesterday, who did not have a draft pick and also could not buy a pick, unlike the past two Drafts.
Nick Stauskas, the sharpshooter from the University of Michigan who once challenged Stephen Curry to a three-point contest at the Stauskas family backyard, and Doug McDermott, another sharpshooter from Creighton University, were already taken by the time the Minnesota Timberwolves were on the clock to pick at No. 13.
Both players were coveted by the Warriors and were in consideration as possible replacements for Klay Thompson, should Thompson be part of a package that would bring Kevin Love to #DubNation in a trade. Instead, the Timberwolves have no such bargaining chip anymore and it remains to be seen if Thompson will end up in Minnesota, assuming the deal still happens.
According to Sarah Todd of SFbay.ca:
Myers, not acknowledging any specific conversation or player, told SFBay that while many calls were made, nothing was exciting enough to risk future picks:
.
“A lot of the trades you’re discussing involve picks and future picks. … Although we have 2015 and 2016 firsts we’re trying to hang on to those and keep them so we don’t have as boring of a night as we did tonight.”
The Warriors’ immediate attention is now on the NBA Summer League roster, which starts on July 11th. “There’s a chance you can find somebody,” Myers said in Todd’s report, naming Kent Bazemore as an example, “It’s unlikely, and low odds, but we’re going to try to see if there’s someone out there that can help us.”
Could Orlando Johnson be that somebody? This morning, the native of nearby Seaside signed with the Warriors’ Summer League team. The 6’3″ small forward started last season with the Indiana Pacers before being waived after the team acquired Evan Turner. Shortly thereafter, Johnson was picked up as a free agent by the Sacramento Kings, who originally drafted him in the 2012 NBA Draft as the 36th overall pick, and traded him to the Pacers.
Bay Area News Group reporter Diamond Leung has been reporting the latest Summer League roster additions for Golden State today and confirmed Johnson’s addition to the team.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
