The Cleveland Cavaliers turned a draft pick acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers in the Baron Davis trade into the #1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft on Tuesday. The Cavaliers' pick had a 2.8% chance of winning the NBA Lottery, and it did just that by beating out the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz.The Golden State Warriors' role in the NBA Lottery was a bit insignificant, if you will.
No, they were not expected to win the NBA Lottery with their .7% chance, but viewers tune in to see their team move up a few spots from where they were initially supposed to be. That was not the case for the Warriors. On the bright side, they stayed exactly where they were positioned, at #11.
Other than the dry comment made by Warriors' owner and NBA Lottery team representative, Joe Lacob, in which he said that he was less worried about luck being a factor and more worried about the "physics of the ping pong ball," the NBA Lottery was a snorefest.
But what about that #11 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft?
The initial reaction is that that position in the Draft is nothing special.
This Draft has no superstars in the making, other than Kyrie Irving and possibly Derrick Williams. This Draft could be over by the fifth pick.
Whether this Draft is that untalented, or that the amount of European players has some people confused as to the talent level of this Draft, we will find out.
For the Warriors, the need is at center.....and preferably a big one.
But the fact is that this Draft has only one bonified big man in Enes Kanter, who will be gone by the third pick, if that. The other possible big man is Bismack Biyombo from the Republic of Congo, but his stock is said to be rising in the coming months from a top-10 pick to a top-5 pick because of his size and potential.
Realistically, if the Warriors want a big man, their best bet will be 6'9" Marcus Morris, who will be playing power forward in the NBA. If they want to reach a bit, they will go after Kenneth Faried from Moorehead State, the nation's leading rebounder in college this past season. But at 6'8", that is a lengthy reach in the Draft.
If you wanted to take this to Vegas, put your money on the Warriors drafting a European player. They're everywhere in this draft.
Jan Vesely from the Czech Republic is a bit of wishful thinking for the Warriors in their position, but if he is there at #11, the Warriors will not pass on him. The 6'11" SF/PF is predicted to be a late top-10 pick.
He is in one word "explosive" although he needs some work on his offensive game. For now, he lives above the rim.
The stock of these players will rise and fall before the 2011 NBA Draft on June 23. For now, the Warriors will be looking at size in the frontcourt and defense in the backcourt when making their pick at #11.
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