NBA Draft rumors are buzzing about the Warriors trying to trade up. Who could they target if they move toward the top of the draft?
The Warriors and their fans have been focused on the middle of the first round for weeks. But it might be time to start scouting a little higher. They hold the No. 19 pick but a nugget in Jonathan Givony's latest mock draft at ESPN mentioned that they've been looking at trading Jonathan Kuminga for a chance to move up.
Kuminga didn't progress as much as they hoped last season and seemed to chafe under his limited role at times. Still, he was the No. 7 pick in the 2021 draft and has immense upside. Given how they sold low on James Wiseman, the Warriors can't afford to move him unless it's for a BIG leap up the draft board.
The good news is that there are a few teams — the Trail Blazers at No. 3, the Rockets at No. 4 and the Pistons at No. 5 — who could be interested in trading back and could be intrigued by Kuminga. In each case, Kuminga, the No. 19 pick and some other minor sweetener might be enough to pull off a trade. Assuming they can get into that No. 3-5 range, here are a few new prospects who could be a great fit in Golden State.
NBA Draft prospects the Warriors can trade up for: 3. Cam Whitmore
Whitmore has been linked with the Rockets at No. 4 and the Pistons at No. 5 which means he'd almost certainly still be available for the Warriors if they were able to trade up into one of those spots.
Whitmore is a powerful wing with a unique blend of strength and quickness and boundless aggressiveness. He is fantastic defensive potential with the tools and dedication to defend multiple positions. On offense, he's a fantastic finisher and looks like he can be a reliable outside shooter, especially with better shot selection. Whitmore probably doesn't create much for others at the next level, but should be a solid and versatile scorer who can attack mismatches and play well off the ball.
There are a lot of similarities between Kuminga and Whitmore but not enough to discourage the Warriors from taking him, especially given Whitmore's intensity and aggressiveness.
NBA Draft prospects the Warriors can trade up for: 2. Jarace Walker
At 6-foot-7, Walker may appear a bit undersized for a full-time frontcourt player but his strength and nearly 7-foot-3 wingspan make it viable. He's an incredibly disruptive defensive player, swarming ball-handlers, protecting the paint and switching onto all sorts of players, making a difference with intensity, awareness and his incredible physical tools. More than one scouting report has mentioned him as an All-Defensive team candidate down the line, with perhaps unmatched defensive versatility in this class.
On offense, he's still developing as an outside shooter and he's not someone who is going to create a ton of offense for himself. But his finishing, physical tools and strong vision and passing skills make him extremely valuable as a pick-and-roll partner.
It's almost trite with the Warriors to wonder about who could replace Draymond Green in their unique scheme. But Walker is perhaps as close a fit as we've seen come through the draft in the past few years. He can be that kind of defensive force and while he may not be quite as adept a facilitator on offense, he could grow into a lot of those responsibilities while offering more potential as a scorer.
NBA Draft prospects the Warriors can trade up for: 1. Amen or Ausar Thompson
If the Warriors are moving up to No. 4 or No. 5, whichever Thompson twin is still available could be the ultimate prize. Both twins are absolutely elite athletes — explosive leapers with insane quick-twitch athleticism and great size and length on the wing. Their physical tools set a terrifically high floor at both ends of the floor and they could contribute immediately as role players, throwing themselves at tough defensive assignments, cutting off the ball and finishing in transition.
Their ceilings are a bit different. Neither is a strong shooter at this point but scouts reportedly feel more confident in Ausar's shooting potential and defense. Amen is more advanced as a passer and primary creator and could ultimately be developed into a starting point guard.
Whitmore and Walker are probably cleaner fits for the Warriors in the present but either Thompson twin could have a role to play next season and their star potential would absolutely justify the cost of moving up.
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