NBA draft: A look at who the Warriors might select at No. 28

OAKLAND – Bob Myers kept shaking his head. The Warriors’ general manager not only struggled to process debilitating injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Or that the Warriors lost in the NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors. Myers could not believe the NBA draft starts on Thursday.

Then, the Warriors will have limited options on how to upgrade their roster. For the second consecutive year, they will have a No. 28 pick. They will also pick at No. 58. Given the Warriors’ limited purchasing power in free agency, expect majority owner Joe Lacob to approve the team to buy a pick if it becomes available.

How that plays out will be unpredictable. The Warriors at least shared some sense of what the No. 28 pick can offer, though.

“You try to get a guy who’s going to be a rotation guy,” Myers said.

Myers believed he had that last year when the Warriors selected Jacob Evans at No. 28. Instead, Evans spent most of his time either on the bench or with the Warriors’ G-League team amid concerns about his shooting and ability to translate his defensive potential at the pro level. Still, the Warriors are mindful late first-round picks need time to develop. After the Warriors selected Kevon Looney at No. 30 in 2015, he spent his first two years hobbled with injuries before becoming a dependable role player in the past two.

Which players available in this year’s draft could the Warriors use as a rotation player? Below are a look at some possibilities.

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Luguentz Dort, ASU, freshman shooting guard

Stats: Ranked first among freshen in the Pac-12 and eighth overall in scoring (16.1)

What needs he fills: The Warriors can’t be choosers, but they consider secondary scoring to be their biggest off-season priority. The reason: Thompson will be out for at least half the season and Andre Iguodala remained the lone consistent bench scorer last season. Dort fills that need as a dependable shot creator and finisher. Talent evaluators also like his reported 6’.85 wingspan, his athleticism and 222-pound frame. Dort can also help the Warriors’ perimeter defense, an area they will sorely struggle without Thompson.

Possible weaknesses: Dort did not shoot well from the field (40.5) or from 3 (30.7). That would be a problem for the Warriors, given Thompson’s initial absence and Durant either being unavailable because of a possible free-agency departure or because of a season-long rehab on his right Achilles tendon. Dort would need to improve his shooting quickly, given Dort’s shot creating and finishing ability may not initially translate given the superior physicality in the NBA.

Kevin Porter, USC, freshman point guard

Stats: 9.5 points on 47.1 percent shooting overall 4.5 rebounds

What needs he fills: Talent evaluators have compared Porter to a young James Harden because of his deceptive foot work, his size (6-foot-6, 218 pounds), 3-point shooting (41 percent from 3) and finishing. The Warriors need point-guard reinforcements since Shaun Livingston is expected to retire and in case Quinn Cook receives an offer elsewhere that is too expensive too match.

Possible weaknesses: Porter remained limited last season because of a November quad injury that sidelined him for eight games. Perhaps he has since overcome that, but the Warriors will need to monitor it. USC also suspended Porter for two games for undisclosed reasons, raising questions about possible character issues. The Warriors do not shy away from signing players with a checkered past. Still, they highly value rotation players that do not cause any locker-room issues.

KZ Okpala, Stanford, sophomore small forward

Stats: 16.8 points and 5.7 rebounds his sophomore season

What needs he fills: Okpala gives the Warriors positional versatility, something that is significant for two reasons. One, the modern NBA calls for players that can score and defend in multiple positions. Two, the Warriors roster remains fluid. Okpala also improved his shooting overall as a freshman (39.3 percent) to a sophomore (46.3). That played out the same way with his shot from 3 as a freshman (22.6 percent) and as a sophomore (36.8 percent).

Possible weaknesses: Okpala might fall under the old adage of ‘jack of all trades, master of none.’ That might delay his initial playing time if he does not have a specific niche. He also is reportedly shy, which might make him feel hesitant to assert himself and to communicate on the court.

Dedric Lawson, Kansas, junior forward

Stats: 19.4 points and 10.3 rebounds his junior season

What needs he fills: The Warriors have considered putting a higher premium on experienced rookies since they will presumably adjust to the NBA quicker, even if they do not have the same talent as some of the younger prospects. Lawson would fall under this category. He returned to Memphis his sophomore season after failing to impress talent evaluators in the 2016 NBA pre-draft combine. After transferring to Kansas following his sophomore season in Memphis, Lawson improved dramatically in his outside shooting (27 percent as a sophomore, 39.3 percent as a junior) and his free-throw shooting (74.1 percent as a sophomore, 81.5 percent as a junior). He also has excelled as a playmaker and rebounder, which could increase his playing time immediately.

Possible weaknesses: Lawson became effective by relying more on his hustle and instincts than his athleticism. That might help in the long-term. Without much athleticism, though, Lawson lacks a distinguishable skill other young players rely on for an edge early in their NBA career. Despite his hustle on the boards, Lawson does not always show the same effort on defense.

Carsen Edwards, Purdue, junior point guard

Stats: averaged 34.8 points per game in the NCAA tournament, 24.3 points overall

What needs he fills: Edwards might not be available, but some mock drafts project him as possibly a second-round pick because of his listed 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame. Still, Edwards would give the Warriors immediate scoring with quickness, growing range and fearlessness. Considering Livingston’s anticipated retirement, Edwards could complement Cook’s steadiness and playmaking. Edwards caught attention for how he thrived during the Boilermakers’ run through the Elite 8, including scoring a career-high 42 points against Villanova and falling short of an NCAA record in 3’s (10-of-19) against Virginia.

Possible weaknesses: Edwards is vastly undersized in today’s NBA at a listed 6-foot-1. He could struggle adapting  playing against bigger guards. He is expected to overcome these issues, but how long will it take?

Matisse Thybulle, Washington, senior shooting guard/small forward

Stats: Averaged a nation-leading 3.5 steals and ranked 18th in blocks, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year

What needs he fills: Thybulle could bolster the Warriors’ defense in many ways. He could give the Warriors some perimeter defense without Thompson for the first half of the season. He could pair well with other defenders, such as Draymond Green and Kevon Looney (assuming he stays). Talent evaluators like Thybulle’s positional defensive versatility, quickness, timing and aggressiveness. Because of his collegiate experience, Thybulle would not face as much of an adjustment learning various defensive coverages.

Possible weaknesses: Thybulle likely would not give the Warriors much secondary scoring. Through four years at Washington, Thybulle shot a combined 42.6 percent from the field and 36.03 percent from deep. Usually, the Warriors do not need rookies to score. Given their limited spending power in free agency, however, the Warriors might become intent on drafting a capable scorer.

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