The Warriors will have the No. 2 pick in Oct. 16's NBA draft, providing them with their highest draft pick since 1995 and the means to add an exciting player with the talent to blossom into the team's next star.
After a season derailed by injuries, the Warriors aim to return to the playoffs next season after posting a league-worst 15-50 record last season. Drafting a player who can contribute immediately, but who still has the upside to develop into a future All-Star, is a priority.
This is the ninth time the Warriors have dropped down in the draft in the 22 times they've been involved in the lottery since its inception in 1985. Previously, the Warriors had moved up in the draft three times, dropped down eight times and stayed the same 10 times.
Entering Thursday night's lottery, the Warriors had a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick, a 13.4% chance at the No. 2 pick, a 12.7% chance at the No. 3 pick, a 12% chance at the No. 4 pick and a 47.9% chance at the No. 5 pick.
Golden State is behind Minnesota at No. 1, followed by Charlotte at No. 3, Chicago at No. 4, Cleveland at No. 5, Atlanta at No. 6, Detroit at No. 7, New York at No. 8, Washington at No. 9, Phoenix at No. 10, San Antonio at No. 11, Sacramento at No. 12, New Orleans at No. 13 and Boston (via Memphis) at No. 14.
Unlike the other teams at the top of the draft, Golden State has a playoff-caliber roster with Klay Thompson (ACL surgery), Stephen Curry (broken hand) and Kevon Looney (neuropathy, abdominal strain) all set to return from injuries that sidelined them for all or most of last season.
Golden State has spent the months since the NBA season was postponed in mid-March scouting this draft's top prospects, which include Georgia's Anthony Edwards, former Memphis center James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball, who played for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League.
Because of the cancellation of May's draft combine in Chicago, the Warriors and other teams have yet to gather key information such as health records or thoroughly evaluate prospects beyond game film.
But sources told ESPN that the NBA is developing plans for a virtual draft combine to be held at regional sites throughout September that would include team doctors administering physicals, the recording of body measurements and putting players through physical testing at team facilities.
Though Thursday's lottery was held virtually from Secaucus, N.J., due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA has yet to announce the location or format for the draft event.
