The Golden State Warriors are coming off a premature exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
Golden State will also be relying on a new general manager to call the shots now that long-time front office head Bob Myers has opted to depart the organization.
To say that there’s a lot of moving parts for these Warriors heading into the summer would be an understatement. While the 19th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft likely won’t play a role in Golden State keeping its championship window open, it remains a strong asset.
The Warriors could use this pick on a pro-ready player ready to make an impact immediately. There’s a need at guard and in the frontcourt. They could also go the long-term route with a high upside, but raw player. With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at when the Golden State Warriors will be on the clock in the 2023 NBA Draft and what players they might target with that selection.
Related: Sportsnaut’s full 2023 NBA mock draft
Golden State Warriors picks in 2023 NBA Draft
Here is the sole Golden State Warriors pick in the annual event in New York on June 22. Though, the team could opt to buy a second rounder once things get going.
- 1st round, 19th pick
Golden State Warriors target in 2023 NBA Draft
Dereck Lively, center, Duke
Size was a major issue for Golden State during its failed run in the NBA Playoffs. While center Kevon Looney did everything possible (13.1 rebounds per game), he stands at just 6-foot-9. In fact, Looney is the Warriors’ tallest rotational player. That’s just not going to cut it moving forward.
Largely linked to the 7-foot-1 Lively leading up to the 2023 NBA Draft, this seems to be a perfect fit. The kid boasts a 7-foot-7 wingspan and is already a low-post terror on the defensive end of the court. While Lively struggled scoring as a freshman for Duke (5.2 points per game), he’ll be an immediate impact performer as both a rim-runner and shot blocker. Lively also has a ton of upside in the pick-and-roll game, something Warriors head coach Steve Kerr loves to utilize.
Related: Golden State Warriors news and rumors
Kris Murray, forward, Iowa
Wing shooting outside of Andrew Wiggins was somewhat of an issue for the Dubs last season. With Donte DiVincenzo set to opt out of his contract and the Warriors unlikely to be able to afford him, this is an even more pressing need. Sure, we like what Jonathan Kuminga brings to the table. But he’s very much a work in progress. He might also be moved in a trade during the summer.
The 6-foot-8 Murray is limited in terms of upside because of his lack of athleticism. But we’re talking about a three-and-D wing who knocked down the perimeter shot at an elite clip for Iowa last season. The twin brother of Sacramento Kings youngster Keegan Murray, this prospect averaged north of 20 points per game on 48% shooting for the Hawkeyes in 2022-23. He’d be a plug-and-play rookie.
Related: Top 100 2023 NBA Draft prospects
Marcus Sasser, guard, Houston
Regardless of whether the Warriors retain Jordan Poole next season, he can’t be relied on as the primary ball handler behind Stephen Curry off the bench. Poole turns the ball over and makes too many questionable decisions. He’s must better as a pure scorer off the ball.
There’s certainly a need behind Curry. Unfortunately, Golden State is only able to offer veteran minimum contracts in NBA free agency due to new cap restrictions. The team could look to hit big time with the 6-foot-1 Sasser at 19. While he has limitations due to his size, the guard fits what the Warriors need. He averaged just 1.6 turnovers per game for Houston last season. Sasser also hit on 38% of his shots from distance while averaging nearly 17 points per game.