Tonight is the NBA Draft and reports are going to be leaked to reporters all around the country. Unless Adrian Wojnarowski is the one dropping Woj-bombs, some of these reports are going to be smokescreens.
Regardless, this one from a young Sports Illustrated reporter is enough to pique our interest.
The Golden State Warriors have made calls trying to move up from No. 30 into the teens, according to a league source.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 23, 2016
Who exactly could the Warriors want? We’ve been pushing for the team to add some tougher big men in lieu of the challenges Oklahoma City and Cleveland present. Also, if Golden State signs Kevin Durant in free agency, they may have to part with Andrew Bogut’s salary. The Warriors need a rotational force from this pick, someone who could one day blossom into a fourth quarter stalwart next to the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green.
Some options:
Domantas Sabonis (6-foot-10, 240 pounds, Gonzaga) — A relentless rebounder and the son of longtime Blazers star Arvydas, Domantas is the type of pest other teams despise. He has excellent footwork and feel in the post. He can also run the floor well for his size and can also switch onto smaller athletic forwards on defense. He an obvious immediate upgrade over Anderson Varejao, and there’s potential he could contribute right away should Festus Ezeli walk.
Henry Ellenson (6-foot-11, 245 pounds, Marquette) — A hybrid forward/center, Ellenson had a productive freshman season at Marquette showing off versatility — Golden State’s favorite trait. Ellenson can lead a fast break down the court, can face up an opponent at the free throw line, he can play with his back to the basket and he can hit three-pointers. He lacks explosiveness, but his skills could thrive with the Warriors.
Skal Labissiere (7-foot, 215 pounds, Kentucky) — A classic rim protector with speed and quickness, Labissiere is agile enough to defend small forwards and centers at the NBA level. It’s his jump shot that’ll entice the Warriors, which has drawn comparisons to Channing Frye. The Haitian native did not live up to his hype under John Calipari, though. Many projected him as the No. 1 overall pick when the college basketball season began. He also missed his junior season of high school, and would be much more of a developmental project.