The truth is, the future of the Warriors isn’t tied to the No. 11 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Sure, trading it for a superstar could be a tempting option, but that’s not really the focus, is it?
The more pressing question is whether the team can return to their past lottery selections and start fresh.
In the early 2010s, strategic decisions set the foundation for a dynasty, bringing in key players like Stephen Curry (7th overall in 2009), Klay Thompson (11th overall in 2011), and Draymond Green (35th overall in 2012). But, it seems like that well has dried up. The ambitious “two-timeline” strategy envisioned by owner Joe Lacob lost its spark, especially after the franchise made two notable picks—James Wiseman (2020 No. 2 overall) and Jonathan Kuminga (2021 No. 7)—that failed to pan out.
When you look at the draft landscape, the Warriors appear light years behind. After Green’s selection, 44 players have made it to the All-Star game, yet none were drafted by Golden State among their 21 picks during that span.
On a brighter note, this year’s draft class is perceived as particularly deep, so there’s a good chance that whoever they pick at 11 won’t be a bust. Plus, it’ll be a new face leading the draft room, as Mike Dunleavy Jr. steps in as the new general manager, taking over from Bob Myers just before the 2022 draft.
Dunleavy has shown he’s capable of spotting strong role players a bit later in drafts, but this will be his first opportunity to lead a lottery selection.
“We’re going to draft the player who we believe is best for our future,” Dunleavy mentioned last month. “That’s been our approach, especially in recent years where we’ve done well in the early rounds, whether it’s first or second.” He added, “We’re a bit higher this time around, but we’ll stick to our game plan.”
Looking back at the Warriors’ draft history since 2020, the discrepancies are glaring. They found solid role players, yet what they’re really missing is top-tier talent.
Consider this: players chosen after the Warriors’ last three lottery selections include Tyrese Haliburton, Deni Avdija, Tyrese Maxey, Franz Wagner, Alpelen Sengun, and Trey Murphy III. It really puts things into perspective.
A quick rundown of some recent picks shows potential: Moses Moody was the 14th overall pick in 2021, Guy Santos came in at 55th in 2022, and Brandin Podzemski was selected 19th in 2023. All three should contribute to the Warriors for quite a while.
Santos is expected to be a significant asset from the 2022 draft, thanks to the Warriors’ international scouting and player development. He had a solid G League stint before joining the NBA and played well enough this season to average 15.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and four assists in 26 starts out of the last 32 games.
Moody might not be a superstar, but he has developed into a competent 3-and-D player, although a knee injury in March set him back. Podzemski, who participated in all 82 games last season, looks poised to earn a contract extension along with Moody and Santos.
Other picks, like Ryan Rollins (44th overall in 2022) and Quinten Post (52nd overall in 2024), are still under evaluation, but they’ve shown more promise than expected. Rollins, for instance, didn’t have many opportunities in Golden State but has since been doing well as a starting point guard for Milwaukee.
As for Jonathan Kuminga, once seen as a future gem, he was traded after a fallout with Coach Steve Kerr, illustrating how unpredictable the draft process can be. He’s now thriving with the Hawks, reflecting the potential he always had.
Then there’s James Wiseman—a high pick that most fans would now consider one of the biggest misses in recent draft history. Injuries and lack of performance raised doubts, leading to his departure from the Warriors after just 152 games in five seasons. With players like LaMelo Ball and Tyrese Haliburton going shortly after him, it’s hard not to linger on “what could have been.”
At least they didn’t miss out on Luka Doncic for Marvin Bagley, but still, those draft decisions linger in the minds of many Warriors fans.
