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Golden State Warriors: 2016 NBA Draft Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 9, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores center Damian Jones (30) after fouling out against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores center Damian Jones (30) after fouling out against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Golden State Warriors emerged with three new players on draft night, but what should they expect from the youngsters? Here are some 2016 NBA Draft Grades for the Dubs.

Golden State Warriors
Jan 9, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores center Damian Jones (30) after fouling out against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports /

When your team’s average win total over the last two seasons is 70 games, there’s a good chance you’ll be at the back of the pack come NBA Draft time. With the 30th overall selection in the last two drafts, the Golden State Warriors haven’t exactly had prime opportunities to bring elite new talent to the roster.

Yet somehow, the Dubs have managed to continue an ongoing trend under general manager Bob Myers (and former GM Larry Riley near the tail end of his career) of making every pick count — no matter where it lands.

We’ve seen something similar from the San Antonio Spurs over the years, but not quite to this same degree. While the Warriors have yet to reach the necessary “draft-and-stash” stage the Spurs have had to indulge in over the years, Golden State’s exceptional core is a direct result of smart drafting in both the lottery, late first round and even the second round:

Okay, so maybe the Warriors’ drafts over that small four-year sample size weren’t perfect. But nabbing the Splash Brothers, Green, Barnes and Ezeli in a four-year span is pretty damn good, and the Dubs’ ability to turn late picks into valuable contributors shouldn’t be overlooked.

In last year’s draft, the Warriors got a lottery-level talent in UCLA’s Kevon Looney. Though Looney only played in five games as a rookie due to injury, those hip problems were the precise reason he fell to the Dubs all the way at No. 30 in the first place. If any team could afford to take a chance on a high-risk, high-reward pick like Looney, it was the Warriors.

With a litany of offseason questions and the sting of failing to complete their historic season fresh in everyone’s minds, the 2016 NBA Draft didn’t offer the same comfort of being able to take risks. Here’s a look at what the Warriors accomplished on draft night, with grades for each individual move.

Next: Damian Jones

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