2015 NBA Draft: 4:00PM PDT, Thursday, June 25th, 2015 – ESPN
The Golden State Warriors front office is back to work tonight for the 2015 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
The Warriors own the 30th pick, which is the last pick of the first round. They do not have a second-round pick.
During this time of year, it’s best to turn to the “Big Three” of the Draft, who have near-decades of experience covering it (in no particular order):
- Chad Ford, ESPN
- DraftExpress, founded by Jonathan Givony
- NBADraft.net, founded by Aran Smith
Interestingly, all three draft experts have different beliefs in the Warriors’ 30th pick. One is a “1” (point guard), the other is a “2” (shooting guard), and yet another prediction is a “3” (small forward). So the educated guess, for now, is that a front-line player is not the best fit this year for the Warriors in the Draft.
Point Guard: Terry Rozier, Louisville
DraftExpress thinks Golden State will select a point guard. Terry Rozier is a sophomore out of the University of Louisville, standing 6’2.25″ with a wingspan of 6’8.25″.
NBADraft.net has Rozier higher, at Number 24. Ford thinks Rozier will be taken 31st.
- “he possess excellent speed, agility and explosiveness to round out his strong athletic profile. Rozier best attribute as a pro prospect is his tenacious defense, evidenced most by his 2.2 steals per 40 minutes which he gets by using his length and anticipation skills to play the passing lanes and lead to easy baskets…He’s also a great rebounder for his size” — DraftExpress
- “his shot selection is still a work in progress … His 40% FG percentage as a freshman was drug down by his scorer’s mentality … His prowess off the dribble often leads him to settle for 2 point jumpers more than he should… He puts for effort on the defensive end and is a productive ball thief” — NBADraft.net
Shooting Guard: RJ Hunter
NBADraft.net is going with the tall shooting guard mold of Klay Thompson and selecting junior RJ Hunter, a 6’6″ shooting guard with a 6’10.5″ wingspan out of Georgia State University, as the Warriors’ pick at Number 30.
Both DraftExpress and Ford think Hunter will go 23rd.
- “He has a lanky frame that should continue to fill out in time, but is still very underdeveloped, tipping the scales at just 180 pounds in the summer of 2014. Athletically, he is very smooth and fluid, but doesn’t stand out with extraordinary speed or explosiveness…He has deep range extending well beyond the 3-point line, and can make shots in a variety of ways, be it off spot-ups, coming off screens, or pulling up off the dribble…His mechanics are smooth and compact, complete with terrific footwork and a pretty follow-through.” — DraftExpress
- “He’s quite possibly best pure shooter in college … He doesn’t have your prototypical release but he is fluid and smooth and shoots a high percentage from virtually anywhere on the court … He’s got range for days and doesn’t lack for confidence… He’s a decent athlete but not an elite one … He’s a coaches son so he has a high basketball IQ … A quiet kid who doesn’t like the spotlight but is very animated on the court and is a leader off the court according to his teammates and coaches” — NBADraft.net
Small Forward: Anthony Brown
Ford believes the Warriors will pick Stanford University senior small forward Anthony Brown, who stands 6’7″ and has a 6’11.25″ wingspan.
DraftExpress has Brown going at Number 31, while NBADraft.net believes Brown will be the 50th pick of the Draft.
- “Demonstrating good fundamentals on his jump shot, Brown was able to show his junior campaign was not a fluke and that he has turned into a very consistent outside shooter, as he finishedsecond among small forwards in our top 100in 3-point percentage…He’s a smooth and fluid, but not incredibly explosive athlete, with none of his physical skills being overly impressive, so he will need to prove he can match the NBA level of athleticism to create separation and get shots off at the next level. His speed in the open court is his best attribute, moving well in transition, and he can handle the ball at top speeds to get to the rim with long and fluid strides, often to finish with either hand. Brown will need to make his living at the next level as a shooter, especially in catch and shoot situations.” — DraftExpress
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account)
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