After Harrison Barnes displayed a 38-inch standing vertical leap, it looked as if the Golden State Warriors were going to have to jump up the draft board themselves in order to get a chance to draft the University of North Carolina small forward. After the Cleveland Cavaliers (Barnes’ biggest suitors, it had appeared as recently as last week) took Dion Waiters of Syracuse (the guy everyone had going to the Warriors over the past couple days) with the fourth pick, everything fell into place.
The Sacramento Kings took Thomas Robinson (who many had going off the board at No. 2) with the fifth pick, then Damian Lillard went to Portland. Taking Barnes was an easy choice for Golden State.
“He is one of the best people in the draft, and we think one of the best players,” said Bob Myers at the Warriors’ practice facility, during a brief statement a few minutes after the pick was made.
“To give you a little anecdote, when the sixth pick was made, and it was Portland’s pick and Lillard, and everybody saw that Barnes was available, my phone almost blew up with people calling, wanting our pick and wanting this player. So we’re thrilled. He’s got great value and we’re excited. He fits what we need. You guys will love him. Great kid, great player. We’re just excited. But we’re not done. As you all know, we’ve got three more picks.”
Three things struck me from Myers’ statement.
1. His “phone almost blew up with people calling,” which conceivably means those conversations may continue through the evening.
2. “He’s got great value,” is usually something people say in reference to trades, not points and rebounds.
3. “We’re not done.” Goes without saying, but the Warriors might not just mean they’ll be making a few draft picks and calling it a night.
Myers also said Barnes fits what the Warriors need, so they could very well stick him at the 3, put Brandon Rush behind him and look to deal Dorell Wright (who can’t have tremendous value after the year he just had). But if the Warriors are looking to add an impact player, it looks like Barnes could help them in that regard. Or maybe I’m just convincing myself that it makes sense to spend another couple hours at the Warriors practice facility.
I was wrong, but…
– Austin Rivers went No. 10 to the Toronto Raptors. I still think the Warriors would’ve taken him had Barnes not fallen out of the top six, but we’ll never know.
– What we do know is that trading down in hopes of getting Terrence Ross (my second option for the Warriors) wouldn’t have been possible because the Raptors took him at No. 8. It was a surprising pick to many (Ross was a last-second invite to the NBA Draft “green room”), but in the end I think it’ll be a tremendous one for Toronto. Ross can play.














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Thanks Otis! I agree with everything you say, i am simply just frustrated with mediocrity that's all. I just want 1 conference finals appearance in my lifetime, and I just don't see it happening ever...btw I always enjoy you thorough breakdowns on these comment sections, you have well formulated opinions and ideas keep it up! Have a nice 4th
Thanks Butcherboy! I appreciate the kind words! I hope you have a nice 4th of July as well! Yeah, I agree with you on the Warriors. It's sickening how bad this team has been, despite the unbelievable fan support the Warriors get. I hope that Lacob, Myers, and co. can help turn it around. But yeah, the Warriors losing is frustrating. I know how you feel.
The whole organization needs to bottom out! Can the NBA dole out a death penalty so we can clear cap space and press reset like an expansion team? Seriously...
I remember you talked about this on Damon's show the other day. Before last night's draft, I would've said the same thing, but with the way the team looks like right now after the picks they made last night, the Warriors could at the very least be a 40-45 win team next season, going in the right direction. Yeah, the Warriors probably should bottom out, but at the same time, the Warriors are trying to change the losing culture of this team. At some point they have to learn how to win games, and eventually be a playoff team. Yeah, teams like the Thunder and even the Clippers have shown that if you bottom out and lose, you draft higher and get real difference makers in the draft that can turn your franchise around. In a sense, the Warriors kind of did that this year by tanking/losing games, and thankfully getting the 7th pick and getting draft picks through the Stephen Jackson trade, and that trade with the Hawks at the trade deadline. Yeah, the guys they drafted might not be real difference makers, but as Damon said earlier, the Warriors finally have players who have NBA bodies on this roster, with these picks. I think the Warriors right now, have to take baby steps. I've felt this way for the past couple of years now. The goal next year should be to at least be .500. I know that's setting the bar low, but everytime they make bold predictions like the playoffs, they end up looking bad and they lose anyway. They need to stop making predictions. Fans will still come out to games anyway, so they shouldn't be predicting playoffs to try to sell more tickets.... If they have lower expectations going into next season, it won't be as much of a disappointment, if they were to miss the playoffs. Hopefully they make the playoffs next year, even though I would be happy with them just being .500 and improving even more next season. The Warriors have some serious talent on this roster now. By the way, good calls Butcher Boy on Damon's show! Your calls are entertaining and informative. I also like the passion you bring to your calls man!
Totally disagree goose it's a league of stars, preferably two to three on a team: Chris Paul and Blake griffin; Kobe gasol/Bynum;KG pierce rondo; amare & Carmelo;Durant Westbrook; Duncan Parker ginobli; Lebron wade bosh; then there are the standalone stars on solid or even mediocre or worse teams teams; derick rose, dirk, derron Williams, Steve Nash, Kevin love, lamarcus Aldridge, Dwight Howard...thats Ike 25 players leaving all the bottom dwellers with nothing! Even the balanced no star Detroit pistons had Rasheed Wallace (4time allstar) big shot billups (5time allstar) rip hamilton(3 time all star) 4x defensive player of the year Ben wallace(4 time allstar) and they were billed as having NO stars. Since 1980 each team that has one the title has had at least 1 superstar if not more! Even the mavericks of last year had an aging HOFer in jay Kidd and a stacked team with Jason terry and Tyson chandler and Shawn Marion and others contributing yet they ALL fed off dirk the star... Stars matter more in hoops than any other sport as there are only 5 spots on the court so each players weight in proportion is larger than baseball (9 guys) and football(11). Check the the Houston rockets even they had Clyde Drexel Robert Harry Sam i am cassel Mario Ellie hakim Olajuwon Otis Thorpe vernon maxwell and Kenny smith that's a stacked roster of talent! It just sucks for the dubs cuz we have been in loser limbo forever, I hope for the best but expect the worst...
The WARRIORS BB were a victim of their own delusions. The ran that small ball and Monta out there like they were real contenders. What a waste of years.
But will he show up at Giants games in a panda hat is what I want to know.
Hope it works out, but I just keep thinking Antwain Jamison-good, servicable but not great. W's cant go to camp with 4 rookies, can they? Something else should be happening before camp opens.
Tommy J, I think people get too infatuated with a player's potential. The reality is there are very few true stars in the NBA. I would be happy if Barnes was a ten year starter/ high character guy with a great 'motor' which by all accounts he is projected to be. Also, he isn't seen as a guy who once he gets a big long term contract will not loose his work-ethic and motivation.
Actually, I was thinking of Ekpe Udoh whom the warriors took with the 6th pick several years ago
Good pick. I'm beginning to wonder if Tim Kawakami is a bit touched in the head. He wanted the Warriors to draft a small guard...that are a dime a dozen in the NBA. Or,Tim's bored with sports writing like Radnich is with talking sports. Burnt out but with bills to pay...
He's referring to Jerry West's philosophy of acquiring 'asssets' to either be used to beef up the roster or more importantly use as a future trade asset to acquire another coveted player in the future. It's essentially the acquire the best player available philosophy as opposed to drafting for position.
But,they just got rid of that type of player..Monta..and drafting best player for a trade?..they better worry about getting good players on their own side of the court.. screw moneyball... Not since Webber have the Warriors got it right with size and talent.. I'm sick of Olive Oyles in the front line for Golden State.
I like the Harrison Barnes pick. Jay Bilas said that Barnes could be a better pro than a college player, and that's saying a lot. I agree that time will tell. We'll see. The night is not over yet for the Warriors.
Myers sounded like he was trying to justify the pick. Barnes's upside will be largely dependent on how hard he works on his weaknesses which are ball handling, passing and creating his own shot. He played power forward until college so he has room to develop those skills and is by all accounts a hard-working, high-character individual. Time will tell.