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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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Golden State Warriors
Feb 27, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Runnin’ Rebels guard Patrick McCaw (22) dribbles the ball during a game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 38 — Patrick McCaw

The awesome thing about the Warriors is that they’ve discovered the formula to win at an unbelievable pace and are sticking to it. They may have lost this year’s title, but the fact that it happened in a 73-win season and represented the greatest upset in Finals history won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

The Warriors should’ve been back-to-back champions, and they’re still going to be the best team in basketball next season. That formula for success is built on the Splash Brothers’ shooting prowess and Green’s Swiss Army knife qualities, but the length and versatility of the auxiliary players shouldn’t be overlooked either.

Enter Patrick McCaw at No. 38, a pick the Warriors acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks for $2.4 million. A two-year wing out of UNLV, McCaw could very well represent the Dubs’ long-term Shaun Livingston successor.

At 20 years old, McCaw averaged 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game during his sophomore season for the Runnin’ Rebels. Unlike Livingston, however, McCaw also boasts the makings of a great shooter, posting .465/.366/.774 shooting splits last year.

According to The Vertical, the Warriors have already signed McCaw to a two-year, fully guaranteed deal, showing their faith in his abilities…and possibly also tipping their hand as to their summer plans to shed depth and sign a superior small forward like Kevin Durant or Nicolas Batum.

Like Livingston, McCaw’s size at 6’7″ gives him a size advantage over smaller players at his position, while his skills as a point forward, a decent perimeter shooter and a player who can defend multiple positions makes him an ideal fit for a team that prizes two-way versatility.

McCaw needs to get stronger, but having a wiry ball hawk like him learning from an accomplished veteran like Shaun Livingston is only going to help his development.

For the 38th pick in the draft, Patrick McCaw represents excellent value for a Warriors team looking to replace some of its depth with effective, long-term prospects on cheap rookie deals.

Grade: A

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