Warriors 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Roundup of B/R Staff, Expert Picks
As the 2022 NBA draft quickly approaches, the Golden State Warriors might appear as though they don't need anything.
They are the world champs, after all, and their bench already features some intriguing up-and-comers, such as James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
Still, no roster is perfect, and this one is no exception. Plus, free agency threatens to open several holes in this rotation, with regulars like Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II set to hit the open market.
It would behoove the Warriors, in other words, to walk away from Thursday's talent grab with capable contributors. Draft experts have a few inklings about who those prospects might be, so we're digging into a few different mocks to see which players are being projected to Golden State at the No. 28 pick.
Bleacher Report: Jake LaRavia, PF, Wake Forest
Jake LaRavia has been a quick riser during the pre-draft process, and B/R's Jonathan Wasserman thinks his ascension could lead him to Golden State.
LaRavia, who spent his first two college seasons at Indiana State before transferring to Wake Forest, impressed enough at the combine to withdraw from the scrimmages. Before shutting it down, he dazzled with his three-point sharpshooting and showcased impressive mobility.
He looks like an effortless role player, particularly if his outside shooting holds up amid a volume increase. While he hit better than 37 percent of his college threes, he only averaged 1.5 attempts across his three seasons.
Give him a reliable three-ball, and you're almost certainly looking at a long-time NBA role player. He is a solid passer, a versatile defender and a tireless worker, and his limitations as a ball-handler wouldn't worry a team with as many shot-creators as the Warriors.
The Ringer: Christian Koloko, C, Arizona
The way the Ringer's Kevin O'Connor sees it, the early turbulence in Wiseman's career could open the door for a big man prospect like Christian Koloko.
"With James Wiseman's stock in question after a slow start to his career, the Warriors could look at a big man late in the first round," O'Connor wrote. "Koloko is raw for his age, but with shot-blocking skill and shooting potential, he fits a similar role to the one the team envisioned for Wiseman."
It's worth noting that Golden State could feel confident about Wiseman's development and still feel the need to invest in a center, since Looney and Nemanja Bjelica are both ticketed for free agency.
Early on, Koloko should hold his own as a rim-runner. He just averaged 2.8 blocks in 25.4 minutes per game and shot 63.5 percent from the field, so he already has the interior skills and athleticism for the job.
Where this pick could really get exciting is whether the 22-year-old is able to tap further into his flashes of shooting and passing, which could take his offensive profile to the next level.
Aggregate Mock: Dalen Terry, PG/SG, Arizona
Over at HoopsHype, Michael Scotto has crunched the numbers of several prominent mocks—including the others cited here—to create a sort of consensus.
Now, it's worth noting that this formula sorts prospects by the average of their draft projection, attaching a point total to each draft spot and calculating their average that way. This doesn't take team needs or even team selections into account, meaning a player could land in a spot no experts actually mock them to.
Still, it's a good way to get a feel for prospects within Golden State's draft range, and that's exactly where Terry lands after picking up steam during the pre-draft process.
His numbers don't move the needle (6.6 points per game over two seasons with the Wildcats), but he can handle point guard duties as a 6'7" player with a 7'0" wingspan.
If the Warriors have interest, they'll likely view him as a positionless playmaker who can handle, run offense and defend multiple positions.