The Warriors are believed to be open to moving down in next week’s draft under the right circumstances, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, who says Golden State has been “very active in trade talks” in recent days and has looked into the possibility of adding a second first-round pick in the late teens.
According to Siegel, the Warriors called the Hornets a couple weeks ago to inquire about trading for the 14th and and 18th overall picks, presumably using their own lottery selection (11th overall). However, sources tell ClutchPoints that Charlotte had “no interest” in moving both of its first-rounders and is “very comfortable” with its current picks.
As Siegel explains, while the Warriors have been widely linked to Brayden Burries and the Michigan trio of Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson at No. 11, they’re also interested in a few prospects projected to go a little later than that. According to Siegel, that group includes Karim Lopez, Cameron Carr and “especially” Bennett Stirtz.
Stirtz was a “last-minute” addition to Golden State’s pre-draft workout on Thursday, Siegel writes, and there have been rumblings about the former Iowa guard being a “dark-horse candidate” to be selected by the Warriors. Carr, who also participated in Thursday’s group workout, appears to be receiving “genuine interest” from the team as well.
Appearing Thursday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs” show, Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski discussed in general terms what the team might be looking for at No 11, as Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area relays.
“I think the obvious answer is someone who’s ready to play or he can play right away,” Podziemski said. “Someone that has experience, is physically mature enough to play in the games right away. I think that’s kind of, as an organization, where we’re at. We’re at the stage where we’re trying to win as much as we can.
“So I think with the 11th pick, you just got to look for a guy that’s ready to come in and make the impact right away.”
Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area thinks Carr, Lendeborg, Burries, Johnson and Washington big man Hannes Steinbach would be the best fits for the Warriors, though he acknowledges Burries in particular may not last until the 11th pick.