Golden State Warriors: Did The Dubs Have The Best 2012 Draft Class?

Draymond Green has the potential to be a solid small forward in the NBA and he’s proving it for the Golden State Warriors in the postseason. (Photo courtesy of Rose White- flickr.com)

Possessing four draft picks in the 2012 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors made the most of their selections, adding pieces to their roster that helped them finish second in the Pacific Division and earn a playoff berth in 2013.

Already boasting a nucleus of Stephen Curry, David Lee and Klay Thompson, Golden State put together one of the best drafts of any NBA team in recent memory by adding role players that have the Warriors keeping pace with the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Here’s a look at the picks the Warriors made in the 2012 NBA draft:

While all of the hype of the 2012 rookie class surrounded Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes quietly went about his business, averaging 9.2 points and four rebounds per game.

Like many of his teammates, Barnes has elevated his play in the postseason, averaging 15.9 points per game while helping the Warriors make a run at an NBA title. Barnes’ scoring mark for the 2013 NBA playoffs leads all rookies, as he’s outscoring all rookies by nearly four points.

Warriors’ beat writer Marcus Thompson highlighted Barnes’ excellent rookie campaign on Twitter:

Barnes was extremely durable for the Warriors this season, starting 81 games and logging more than 25 minutes per game. If that’s not the mark of a solid first-round pick, then I don’t know what is.

Round 1, Pick 30: Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt

Former Vanderbilt center Festus Ezeli is still a bit raw, but the 6’11” center has all of the tools to be an NBA center with a few more years of development under his belt.

Ezeli appeared in 78 games for Golden State and saw 14 minutes per game, but he averaged just two points and four rebounds per game. Judging by his rookie season and his body of work in college, Ezeli isn’t going to be a scorer in the NBA.

What he will be is a rebounding center who provides solid interior defense and alters the shots of his opposition. Learning behind Andrew Bogut, Ezeli can be a glass eater and solid defender for the Warriors in the near future.

Obviously the selection of Barnes was huge for the Warriors, but I thought the Draymond Green pick was one of the most underrated and best selections of any team in the 2012 draft.

Green was a beast at Michigan State, averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game during his senior season, and his 6’7″, 230-pound build seemed suited for the NBA.

While the 23-year-old averaged just three points and three rebounds per game this season, the rookie has come up bigger in the playoffs for Golden State, contributing nearly seven points and four rebounds a game, including a career-high 16 points and 10 rebounds in Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets.

Round 2, Pick 52: Ognjen Kuzmic

Serbian center Ognjen Kuzmic didn’t play a factor in the Warriors’ season, but the 7’1″ center has potential. Golden State drafted him knowing that they had plenty of depth at center, as Kuzmic still needs to develop into an NBA-type player.

At just 231 pounds, the slender center needs to add more weight and strength in order to bang with other big-bodied centers in the NBA.

The Final Word

So, did the Warriors have the best draft of any NBA team in 2012?

In terms of production and how their rookies are helping them advance in the playoffs, I’d have to say yes.

Longterm, I like what the Boston Celtics did by drafting Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo back-to-back in the first round, as I think both players have bright futures in the NBA.

But if we’re talking players who contributed this season and are continuing to play at a high level in the postseason, Golden State takes the cake on this one.    

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