Why Warriors’ G League usage brings confidence drafting late originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO — Exactly one week ago, the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 103-90 at TD Garden in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win their fourth title in the last eight seasons. And in the blink of an eye, the 2022 NBA Draft is here.
Jordan Poole scored 15 points off the bench and hit three 3-pointers during the Warriors’ historic 21-0 run in the series-clinching victory. Three years ago, Golden State grabbed Poole out of Michigan with the No. 28 overall pick. They find themselves in the same spot this year after owning two lottery picks last year.
General manager Bob Myers told reporters Wednesday that the Warriors had 15 to 20 people on the ninth floor of Chase Center watching film of draft prospects and getting their big board together. Poole is Exhibit A of finding value late in the first round, a slot that usually doesn’t turn into a rising star.
No matter which direction the Warriors go with their first of three picks in this year’s draft, coach Steve Kerr fully trusts in Myers’ decision. There’s strong buzz the Warriors could push to trade the pick. If they do decide to add a player with the pick, they have every right to have all the confidence in the world with their selection.
The numbers speak for themselves.
“I trust Bob and his staff,” Kerr said Wednesday to reporters. “When you’re picking 28th or 30th, there’s such a low chance of hitting, and the reality is our guys upstairs have hit for a really high average. You just look at the Finals, drafting Jordan and [Kevon Looney]. … Between those two guys, and going back, [Draymond Green] at 35 and [Festus Ezeli] before he got injured was a really valuable player for us.
“So our group has done an amazing job late in the first round, into the second round. I’m glad it’s not my job. I just coach whoever they put out there, but they’ve done a great job putting our rosters together.”
Myers became Warriors GM in April 2012, and Kerr was hired as their head coach in May 2014. Since Myers stepped into his role, he has made late first-round draft picks like Ezeli at 30 in 2012, Looney at 30 in 2015, Damion Jones at 30 in 2016, Jacob Evans at 28 in 2018 and Poole at 28 in 2019. That doesn’t even include Green in the second round of his first draft at No. 35 overall.
Among those picks, Evans is the only real disaster. He lasted 57 games with the Warriors, averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 rebounds…