What the Warriors should do with the No. 1 overall pick

With the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery coming up, the Golden State Warriors should be prepared to capitalize on the No. 1 overall pick.

The much-awaited 2020 NBA Lottery is finally upon us. The 14 teams that did not make the playoffs will find out the order of their draft picks. The Golden State Warriors finished the 2019-2020 season with a 15-50 record, the worst in the NBA. They were not invited to the NBA bubble, but their season will not be in vain. The team is guaranteed a top-five pick, a 52 percent chance of a top-four pick, and a 14 percent chance of the number one overall pick shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

If the Golden State Warriors receive the number one pick, the pressure falls on general manager and president Bob Myers to use the draft to their advantage and maximize the potential for the next NBA season. Their two options are to draft for the future or to draft for the present. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are all past 30 years old and many believe that the team should draft for a potential star that could replace the current talent in the future.

However, with Steph and Klay healed and ready to rejoin the team, it’s clear that the Warriors will be title contenders once again. Therefore, the team has to draft for the present to win now.

As for the players in this year’s draft, almost all of the top prospects have been linked to the Warriors. LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards are the two prospects that will most likely be the number one overall, but as tempting as they are, neither would be a good fit for the Golden State Warriors. LaMelo Ball’s playmaking skills aren’t something that the team currently lacks and it’s questionable whether he would flourish with the team.

Shooting guard Anthony Edwards falls short on defense, an area that calls for improvement for the Warriors. James Wiseman is the clear choice for the Warriors as the first pick. Coming in at 7’1″ from Memphis where he averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.

Despite the small sample size of only three games, his numbers and athleticism show that he has the potential to dominate the paint and fill the hole in the Warriors’ defense. Other prospects that would be a better fit over Ball or Edwards are international player Deni Avdija, a versatile point-forward, Onyeka Okongwu, or even Tyrese Haliburton.

Unlike other years, this year’s draft class does not have a clear star such as Zion Williamson, so it’s important for the Warriors to choose a prospect that is a good fit for the team and has a high-ceiling. James Wiseman will give Golden State the flexibility to figure out what is best for the team in the upcoming season, whether that means keeping him or trading him away in hopes of getting another star or veteran player.

Wiseman has the potential to play big minutes and be part of a winning team. There have also been a number of rumors tying the Warriors to stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, Isaiah Thomas, and more. Although those trades are unlikely, Wiseman is a valuable prospect that can be used in a trade to acquire a more proven player.

All eyes are on the Warriors as they attempt to rebuild their team via the 2020 NBA Draft.