Warriors Post-Draft Day Analysis
Draft day was an eventful day around the NBA, but the mayhem started hours before the first selection with the Golden State Warriors sending shockwaves to the other twenty-nine teams around the Association.
Per multiple reports from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, The Washington Wizards traded Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors for a package that included Jordan Poole, Ryan Rollins, and future draft assets.
In an offseason with a lot of speculation surrounding the Warriors moving on from their young core, they finally made it official by trading one of last season’s most polarizing players in their organization.
There is a lot to take away from the blockbuster trade. The two biggest takeaways are that they are a smarter overall team with Paul as the backup point guard to Curry. More importantly, this is an active sign that they are trying to maximize their championship window and win now.
There was a mixed bag of emotions from fans about the trade: Anger, sadness, and confusion, but ultimately the move makes them a better team. They improved in the non-Steph minutes, with Paul leading the second unit, but they will also save hundreds of millions of dollars in the future by getting rid of Poole’s massive contract, which will give them financial flexibility with Paul’s contract set to expire after this season.
The Warriors took a big risk by trading one of their young, dynamic scorers and showing loyalty to their championship core, but they also took a risk in the draft. At the beginning of the draft, they had the 19th overall pick in this year's draft, and they selected Brandin Podziemski out of Santa Clara University instead of moving the pick like many had hoped.
The 6-foot-5-inch, 20-year-old sophomore, who has a 6’6" wingspan, turned a lot of heads in the West Coast Conference after a standout season as a transfer from Iowa. He has the tools and mental fortitude to be a solid NBA player from the beginning, specifically bringing a weapon of an outside jumper and high game IQ with his play-connecting passing ability.
"I'm a perfect fit for them, and they're a perfect fit for me. I want to win a championship this year," Podziemski stated on draft night.
He doesn’t lack confidence on and off the court. He’s a combo guard who is physical and tough and averaged almost nine rebounds per game at Santa Clara. The WCC Co-Player of the Year describes himself as someone who could be a "Triple-Double guy."
There have been some questions surrounding Podziemski's contribution and making an immediate impact, particularly with his lack of lateral quickness on the perimeter. The expectations for him, are of course, tempered.
"I would never draft anybody expecting them to play right away. Coming in as a rookie in the NBA, there are too many challenges and too much going on. If you can find a way to play, great; it’s gravy on top, but I don’t care if you’re 19, 21, or 25. There’s an amazing adjustment that has to take place. Everyone does it at their own speed. As far as we’re concerned, there are no expectations heading into year one. It’s unrealistic, and if they do end up playing well, it’s a bonus” said new Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
For a while, Podziemski was the sole draft pick for the organization in this year’s draft. But in the eleventh hour of the draft, they got back into it with the second-to-last pick.
Per a report from Shams Charania, Senior NBA insider for the Athletic, The Warriors traded Patrick Baldwin Jr. to the Wizards as part of the Chris Paul-Jordan Poole trade. As a result, the Warriors acquired the number 57 overall pick from Washington and selected Trayce Jackson-Davis from Indiana. Dunleavy Jr. stated in his post-draft press conference that Jackson-Davis would be on the 15-man roster immediately.
TJD, a 6’9", 240-lb power forward/center, has great athleticism, is a good scorer around the rim, is comfortable in the pick and roll as a big man, is a capable passer, and is very comfortable with the ball in his hands when making plays, something the Dubs have lacked from a true big since Andrew Bogut. Many draft analysts had him as a late first-round talent, but his age and lack of shooting at his position caused some concern for modern scouts.
"It was a very successful day for our organization," Dunleavy Jr. said in the post-draft.
Only time will tell if the draft picks and the moves made will pan out. As much as people criticize and evaluate the moves and picks, we cannot truly know how any team fared on draft day until the players hit the court and contribute to their respective teams seasons down the line.
(Photo credit: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)