I. Introduction

2001-2002 Season

21-61 7th in the Pacific, Last in the Western Conference

There is no off season in the Bay Area. Not when the Golden State Warriors have so much work ahead of them.

There is not a single NBA team that needs this draft more than your Golden State Warriors. The Clippers have young talent everywhere, the Bulls have a Rose between two phenoms, and the Wizards had the #1 pick last year and can still pray for MJ. The Warriors hang their hopes and dreams on a roster with a few bright spots and surpluses of mediocrity.

Warriors fans need reasons to believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Run TMC days of Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin are a distant glow in the past. Currently, there is a glimmer of promise and potential with young players Antawn Jamison and Jason Richardson.  But we need more proof that the sun will shine in Warrior land again. Golden State needs the 2002 NBA draft. It is our only hope.

The lottery drawing was unfriendly to Golden State. With 2 can't miss prospects at the top of the draft, the Warriors won the 3rd pick. But maybe, just maybe, that's exactly where we need to be.

Remember the 1984 draft where Michael Jordan was taken 3rd?  Two centers (Hakeem Olajuwon & Sam Bowie) were taken ahead of him. And does this draft remind anyone else of the 1998 draft where the top 2 picks were a C and PG (Michael Olowokandi and Mike Bibby)?  Meanwhile, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce were all available, but not taken at #3.

II. Personnel Changes

• G Mookie Blaylock $5,400,000 4-yr; 18.00m 01-02
• C Dean Garrett $3,240,000 5-yr; 15.00m 01-02
• F Cedric Henderson $3,000,000 3-yr; 9.00m 01-02
• G Dean Oliver $332,817 1-yr; 332k 01-02

• G Larry Hughes $1,310,400 4-yr; 7.51m 01-02

• G Gilbert Arenas $332,817 2-yr; 845k 02-03

• C Marc Jackson $3,250,000 6-yr; 24.38m 06-07
  

-- notes --
The Warriors matched an offer sheet from Houston for Marc Jackson with the intentions of trading him. Jackson signed as a free agent in 2000-2001, and finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting. Many rumored deals fell through, and Jackson complaining bitterly from the bench for four months. He was finally traded at the deadline to Minnesota for journeyman Dean Garrett and a 2nd round pick in 2007.  That isn't exactly what the Warriors had in mind when they matched Houston's offer.

This might have some effect on how they handle Larry Hughes this off season. He is a restricted free agent, and he wants to test the market. After riding the bench at the end of the season, there is not much incentive for Hughes to stay in Golden State.  A sign and trade would be great, but it will be interested to see if the Warriors are willing to sign Hughes without a deal already in place.

III. Season Recap

First let's look at the past to understand where we've been:

2001-02 Season

• Golden State was 21-61 last year, 57-189 the last three seasons.
• The Warriors gave up the most points per game at 103.1.
• The Warriors shot an abysmal .429 from the field.
• The Warriors finished 1st in league in rebounding at 46.7 a game. However, they played a lot of high scoring games with a lot of missed shots.
• The Warriors matched an offer sheet for Marc Jackson with the intentions of trading him. Jackson signed as a free agent, and finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 2000-2001. After many rumored deals fell through, and with Jackson complaining bitterly from the bench for four months, he was finally trading at the deadline for journeyman Dean Garrett and a 2nd round pick in 2007 from Minnesota.
• Coach Dave Cowens was fired in December after a mere 105 games with the Warriors. The players didn't respond to Cowens style and there were several unhappy players voicing their opinions in the papers. Assistant Brian Winters coached the team for the remainder of the season.
• Jason Richardson won the All-Star slam-dunk competition, as well as the Rookie Challenge MVP. His play continued to improve after the All-Star break, and it looks like he'll be an exciting player in the future.
• After trying to change position to PG, Larry Hughes was benched at the end of the season. He has expressed interest in testing the market as a restricted free agent. The Warriors could match any offer for Hughes, but they might not want to considering the trouble they had in trading an unhappy Marc Jackson this past year.
• Interim Coach Brian Winters played his rookies heavily down the stretch. Jason Richardson flourished. Gilbert Arenas proved he deserves minutes and he won the Rookie of the Month Award for April. Troy Murphy played more, but he still played behind Antawn Jamison and Danny Fortson.
• Danny Fortson was benched at the end of the year in favor of starting Antawn Jamison at PF. Fortson's play had been inconsistent, but it did open up questions about the team's future at the position.
• In 2001-02 the Warriors paid over $17 million to Erick Dampier, Mookie Blaylock, and Chris Mills. None of these players were starters by the end of the year.

IV. Roster

      0   Gilbert Arenas    G  6--3  191   1/06/82  Arizona '03            R
     23   Jason Richardson  G  6--6  220   1/20/81  Michigan State '03     R
      3   Bob Sura          G  6--5  200   3/25/73  Florida State '95      6
  ** 10   Mookie Blaylock   G  6--1  190   3/20/67  Oklahoma '89          12
  ** 20   Larry Hughes      G  6--5  184   1/23/79  St. Louis '01          3
  **  2   Dean Oliver       G  5-11  175  11/05/78  Iowa '01               R
                                

  ** = free agent

The backcourt is thin and inexperienced. 

The Warriors experimented with Larry Hughes at PG at the start  of the season. They drafted Jason Richardson to be the SG of  the future, so a position change made sense for Hughes. However,  by midseason he was struggling after a promising start. His decision making never fully developed, and he was not successfully keeping the offense together. Hughes is only 23 year old, and he could still develop into a solid player. But after being benched at the end of the year he is expected to test the market as a  restricted free agent. 

If you need a reason to feel good about the Warriors future, look no further than Jason Richardson. The winner of the All-Star  slam-dunk dunk competition and MVP of the Rookie Challenge,  Richardson had a solid rookie season. He shot better than  expected from the outside, and he brought the athleticism that made him the #5 pick in last years draft. He's a great  finisher on the break, but the team would like to see him be  more aggressive taking the ball to the basket. If Richardson  can get to the free throw line more, he should challenge  Antawn Jamison as the team's leading scorer. 

Gilbert Arenas slipped into the 2nd round of last year's draft,  and it looks like fortune was smiling on the Warriors. When  Hughes struggled at PG, Arenas got a chance to show he belongs  in the NBA. He's not a natural PG, but his ability to push the ball and shoot from the outside led to increased minutes. He's earned the chance to be in the guard rotation in the  future. 

Bob Sura is a veteran guard that brings energy and steady  play off the bench. He was more of a playmaker this past year,  as the team searched for answers at PG. His good play was  still limited by his minutes, as the team put the rookies on the court to evaluate them. He's under contract for another  2 years, so he should provide a steady hand in the backcourt as the young players develop. 

Mookie Blaylock is a free agent and will not be returning.  Blaylock played/stayed out his contract, but had no interest  in trying to lead a losing team. 

Dean Oliver was held on injured reserve for most of the year. He or a rookie free agent might be signed to add depth to the backcourt in case of injuries.

Frontcourt

     33   Antawn Jamison    F  6--9  223   6/12/76  North Carolina '99     3
     21   Danny Fortson     F  6--8  260   3/27/76  Cincinnati '98         4
     25   Erick Dampier     C  6-11  265   7/14/74  Mississippi State '97  5
     31   Adonal Foyle      C  6-10  265   3/29/75  Colgate '98            4
      1   Troy Murphy       F  6-11  245   5/02/80  Notre Dame '02         R
     34   Chris Mills       F  6--7  220   1/25/70  Arizona '93            8
  ** 22   Dean Garrett      C  6-11  250  11/27/66  Indiana '88            5
  ** 45   Cedric Henderson  F  6--7  225   3/11/75  Memphis '97            4
** = free agent

The Warriors have a mixed bag in the frontcourt. 

They've tied the ship to Antawn Jamison. He's a good player,  but he's yet to prove that he can make the players around  him better. But he is the leading scorer on the team at 19.7/game and he grabs 6.8 rebounds as well. He's now signed through 2008, so continued improvement is a must for the Warriors to improve.

As for rebounding, Danny Fortson is a machine in that category  (11.7/game). However, he is limited in other areas. Fortson struggled on offense this past year, although he helps the team with his offensive rebounding. He also has limitations on  defense which might not make him the best long term answer  at PF. He can play limited minutes at C, but is not much of a shot blocker.

Troy Murphy was added to the team as the #14 pick in last  year's draft. He had a decent rookie season, but much more  will be expected of him next year. He should be a tough  matchup at 6'11" with a good jumpshot. 

The PF position was a problem for the Warriors this past  year. Fortson is the starter, but he is sometimes pulled  to allow Jamison time at PF or to let Rookie Troy Murphy  get minutes. It's critical that a rotation is set at PF, as Fortson or Jamison will not hesitate to criticize if they  feel they are being misused. Murphy needs playing time to  develop, too.

At C, the Warriors have the two headed monster of Adonal  Foyle and Erick Dampier. Simply stated, the Warriors could  use an upgrade here.

Dampier was mostly healthy this past year, but he eventually  lost his starting spot to Foyle who played with more energy.  Dampier is signed through 2006, so it's quite disappointing  to not have him hold on to the starting C spot. He started  the season well, but seemed to lose focus as the season progressed. He is a big body and he does block shots at  the defensive end, but his lack of intensity does not help  his average offense.

Foyle is a more active and he hustles, but he is a limited  offensive player. Foyle does provide a good shot blocker  in the middle, where occasionally gives the team a lift at the defensive end.

Chris Mills is a veteran reserve. He plays good defense,  and occasionally gives the team a boost on offense. However,  he is stuck in a backup role as the Warriors look to the  future.

I doubt Dean Garrett or Cedric Henderson will be resigned,  unless the team makes moves that require them to be kept as backups.

Contracts

  Player             2001-02 salary   Total deal       Signed through
                                
  Erick Dampier      $6,235,000       7-yr; $48.00     2005-06
  Mookie Blaylock    $5,400,000       4-yr; 18.00      2001-02
  Chris Mills        $5,400,000       6-yr; 26.00      2002-03
  Bob Sura           $4,913,334       6-yr; 28.20      2003-04
  Danny Fortson      $4,441,558       7-yr; 38.00      2006-07
  Adonal Foyle       $4,400,000       4-yr; 17.50      2003-04
  Antawn Jamison *   $3,388,176       6-yr; 85.00      2006-07
  Dean Garrett       $3,240,000       5-yr; 15.00      2001-02
  Cedric Henderson   $3,000,000       3-yr; 9.00       2001-02
  Jason Richardson   $2,425,440       4-yr; 11.36      2004-05
  Troy Murphy        $2,343,635       4-yr; 6.48       2004-05 
  Larry Hughes       $1,310,400       4-yr; 7.51       2001-02
  Gilbert Arenas       $332,817       2-yr; 845,252    2002-03
  Dean Oliver          $332,817       1-yr; 332,817    2001-02 
                               

• 2003 42,674,606
• 2004 46,886,603
• 2005 27,208,828
• 2006 29,653,959
• 2007 22,546,591
• 2008 17,265,625

V. Coaching/Management

That being said they have not tipped their hand about who will coach the team next year. Interim Coach Brian Winters finished the season, after Dave Cowens was fired. The players responded to Winters style, although it didn't translate to an improved record. 

It would seem that the team should give Winters a vote of confidence, and let him continue the job. However, if the team feels that it can attract a high-profile coach, they may wait to see what develops. 

GM Gary St. Jean was heavily criticized for the Marc Jackson fiasco. There have been other questionable moves in the past, but St. Jean's job is secure for now. The organization will try to build on last year's strong draft. 

At the end of the season, there were rumors that the Warriors were trying to get Jerry West to come out of retirement and run the organization. West phoned St. Jean to assure him that he was not interested in a job with the team. Later he became  the GM of the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Another hot rumor was that they were looking for a high profile  coach a la Jeff Van Gundy. However, Van Gundy has shown no  interest in the job, stating that there is a lot of pressure  to win-now in the NBA, and that he wouldn't want to coach  a team that is rebuilding.

VI. Previous Drafts (Bad Mojo)

The Warriors draft history is not good. Draft day trades have not worked in the Warriors favor, and too many of their prospects have never fulfilled their potential. Last year  was widely believed to be a very successful draft for the  Warriors. Let's hope that's a trend that continues ...

1995-1998 Draft picks passed on ...

• 1998 passed on Paul Pierce
• 1998 passed on Dirk Nowitzki
• 1998 passed on Vince Carter
  
• 1997 passed on Tracy McGrady
  
• 1996 passed on Kobe Bryant
  
• 1995 passed on Kevin Garnett 
• 1995 passed on Antonio McDyess
• 1995 passed on Jerry Stackhouse
• 1995 passed on Rasheed Wallace
• 1995 passed on Michael Finley

Recent Draft History

• 2001 - #5 Jason Richardson, Michigan State
  #14 Troy Murphy, Notre Dame
  #31 Gilbert Arenas, Arizona
  
• 2000 - #55 Chris Porter, Auburn
• 1999 - #21 Jeff Foster, Southwest Texas State #21 pick from Atlanta Golden State traded draft rights to Jeff Foster to Indiana in exchange for draft rights to Vonteego Cummings  (26th overall) and a future first-round pick.
• 1998 - #5 Vince Carter, North Carolina
  Toronto traded the rights to Antawn Jamison to Golden State for the rights to Vince  Carter and cash. 
• 1997 - #8 Adonal Foyle, Colgate
• 1996 - #11 Todd Fuller, North Carolina State
• 1995 - #1 Joe Smith, Maryland
• 1994 - #16 Cliff Rozier, Louisville
• 1993 - #3 Anfernee Hardaway, Memphis State
  Orlando traded the rights to Chris Webber to Golden State for the rights to Anfernee Hardaway and 3 future first-round draft choices.
• 1992 - #24 Latrell Sprewell, Alabama

VII. Team Needs

The Warriors need help at both ends of the court. Without  a proven PG, they struggle on offense. Defensively, the team does not have a true defensive stopper at any position.  They shot a poor .429 from the field while giving up a  .459 FG% to opponents.

They need a PG to be the floor leader, to initiate the offense,  and to create opportunities for teammates. Too often the ball  ends up in Jamison or Richardson's hands as the shot clock is  expiring. The team lacks players with dominating moves or scoring ability, and they settled for too many jumpers taken  by average shooters. They attempted to hide their deficiencies  by playing up tempo, but it's obvious in the half-court.

The Warriors would benefit from a strong inside presence at  C or PF. They don't match up well inside against athletic big  men. Foyle, Dampier, and Fortson would make a nice backups  to an athletic post player, but they have limitations that  show with extended playing time. The entire frontcourt is unsettled with Jamison, Fortson, Murphy, and Richardson all taking turns at multiple positions. The team needs someone  to step forward and lock down the forward slots.

Defensively, the team needs to do something to slow opposing  teams. They finished dead last in the NBA in points given up per game (103.1). The young players should improve given time, but it's important that Antawn Jamison makes a  commitment to defense as well.

Athletically, the team has limitations. Most of the Warriors' players are strong in 1 or 2 categories, but they don't match  up well in numerous situations. If the Warriors could add a  top notch athlete in the draft, it might help the team adapt  to different styles of play and different matchups.

Finally the team needs to see continued improvements from it's young players. The Warriors had a good draft last year, and those players are going to have to get better. Without much room under the salary cap, the team will go only as far as their current roster and draft picks take them.

Warriors Selection

My Selection with the #3 Pick: Mike Dunleavy

The decision here is between Yao Ming and Mike Dunleavy.

Jay Williams is off the board. Drew Gooden is a  consideration, but the team is already committed to Jamison. Caron Butler might have been a good fit, but he's already been taken.

So, would the Warriors benefit more by drafting an  athletic 7'5" C with tremendous upside, or by drafting  a 6'9" SF with good all-around skills and great ability  to make plays?

If I were GM Gary St. Jean, I would hope that the 2002 NBA  draft does not follow the Usenet Draft's top 2 picks.  Ming or Mike? Yao or Dunleavy? It's a tough question without an absolute answer. Either player might be taken #1 in the  draft.

However, the great thing about a mock draft is that 3 NBA  teams can pass on a guy that is 7'5".

The pick is Dunleavy.

It's tough to pass on Yao. It's Public Relations nightmare  for the Warriors, as the Bay Area would be one of the best  places for a Chinese player to adapt to the NBA and American  culture. Yao is the most intriguing player in the draft. He would instantly put fans in the seats at the Arena.  He has great potential, and he is the best prospect at the most difficult position to fill on a NBA roster.

But there are just too many questions.

Would Ming be allowed to play full seasons with the Warriors, or would he have to play for China in international tournaments?  Can he develop post moves and an inside game, or is he going  to be a 7'5" jumpshooter? Will he be able to add the strength  needed to stay in the low post? 

Ming is a project. The reward may be great, but the Warriors aren't in a position to take big gambles. They could draft him and then trade him, but it's not clear that such a move would be in their best interest.

The team needs a lot of help. And that's exactly why Mike  Dunleavy is the perfect pick. He's a lethal outside shooter. He's a good ballhandler. He's a good passer. He's 6'9". But  the best thing about Dunleavy is his feel for the game.

If the Warriors are trying to build a team, they need someone to be the glue. Dunleavy is the man for the job. He is  the type of player that will make the players around him  better. He played PG in high school and he understands how to move the ball and setup plays. As a coach's son with a great  basketball IQ, he would help the team get into an offensive flow. It won't take him much time to learn the mental aspects of the NBA. He's a natural in that area.

He will need to add strength to compete in the NBA. However, he has good size for a SF and he is a good rebounder. With Jason Richardson and Dunleavy playing the wings, teams would  have to worry about how they matchup with the Warriors for a change.

Adding Dunleavy at SF would also give the Warriors more options  in building the team for the future. His versatility would  make him a perfect player to build around. Other pieces are  in place in Jamison, Richardson, Murphy, and Arenas. Adding  Dunleavy to the mix would give the Warriors a great mix of  young talented players.

IX. Players Considered

Jay Williams PG Duke 6--2 195

Fantastic scorer with great range. Excellent 3 point shooter. Nice court vision and outstanding handles.  Relentless offensive player. NBA type body. Excellent  quickness and strength. An immediate  impact type player. 

IF Jay Williams is the pick: 

The Warriors would draft Jay Williams to run the team's offense. He and Jason Richardson would be an exciting duo in the backcourt. Gilbert Arenas would become  first guard off the bench, and the Warriors would have a strong rotation with Williams, Richardson, Arenas, and Bobby Sura. Williams would provide and outside  shooting threat and floor leader that the team has been so desperately seeking. It would be a great fit of  talent and need would the Warriors be able to get Williams. The question is does Williams drop in any possible scenario, and if not what would the Warriors give up to acquire him?

Caron Butler SF UConn 6--7 243

Amazing workouts have Butler's stock on the rise. He  may be ready to contribute to an NBA team immediately.  He has an NBA body, and the ability to play both inside  and outside. Runs the floor well and finishes strong. He  is mentally and physically tough. Butler is a good rebounder and a solid defender. He shot more consistently from the outside this past season, and he finished the season on fire with an impressive run in the NCAA tournament.

IF Caron Butler is the pick: 

He's not the PG or C that the Warriors need, but he might  be the most talented player on the board at #3. Adding  more athleticism would be a good move for the sometimes  deliberate Warriors. Butler's inside/outside game would  compliment Antawn Jamison's game at PF. A forward rotation  of Jamison, Butler, Troy Murphy, and Danny Fortson would  give the Warriors a lot of options and opportunities for  mismatches. If Butler is the pick it might be a signal  that Larry Hughes and/or Danny Fortson are being traded  for a PG or additional help.

Yao Ming C Shanghai (China) 7--5 295

Ming is athletic and 7'5". Obviously, NBA teams are drooling over him. He's been compared to a more mobile  Rik Smits. He's very fluid and quick running the floor. He has a good jumpshot with range out to the NBA 3 point line. He reportedly has good lower body strength, giving scouts hope he can add more weight and strength in his upper  body. He's a good shot blocker although his reach is not  that impressive for his height. Ming would have to prove he  could hold position in the post against NBA players, however  the potential matchup problems could be nightmares for  opposing teams.

IF Yao Ming is the pick: 

The Warriors haven't shown much interest in Yao to this  point. It's been surprising, since he could be a fan favorite  with the Bay Area's large Asian population. Even if Ming took  time to develop he would help put fans in the seats at  the Oakland Arena. However, the Warriors may not feel  that he would be a big upgrade over Erick Dampier and Adonal  Foyle. If he is the pick, then it would signal the end of  either Dampier or Foyle's days in the Warriors uniform.  Ming's ability to run the court would give the Warriors a  Center capable of keeping up with Jamison and Richardson.  If he can hold his ground against Western Conference Centers,  he would give the Warriors a tough matchup at the hardest position to fill on an NBA roster.

Mike Dunleavy SF Duke 6--9 220

Is he the next Larry Bird or the next Keith Van Horn?  Dunleavy's versatility makes him a tough matchup. He's a  deadly outside shooter, great ball handler, and good  rebounder. He needs to add strength, but his feel for the  game makes him a top 5 pick. Former High School point guard  has grown to 6'9", but still has guard skills. Described as  a wolf in sheep's clothing, he'll kill you quietly the court.  Dunleavy may have limits on his athleticism and quickness,  but his basketball smarts and all-around abilities make him  a deadly player.

IF Mike Dunleavy is the pick: 

The Warriors need talent, and Dunleavy is one of the most talented players in the draft. His outside shooting would improve the Warrior's dreadful shooting from 3 point land. Dunleavy's ball-handling and good decision making would also seriously upgrade the Warriors offense. Dunleavy would bring an interesting combination of play making ability and basketball smarts to a Warriors front court that needs both. He would need to gain strength, as a starting  frontcourt with Antawn Jamison and Dunleavy might get  pushed around by larger NBA forwards. However, the  potential matchup problems that Dunleavy could create on offense are very tempting.

Drew Gooden PF Kansas 6-10 240

Athletic big man with great quickness. Gooden is a strong rebounder with great leaping ability. Very versatile skill set, but he will need to add weight and strength to compete against NBA power forwards. Gooden is more polished than other PF prospects in the draft. He has some SF skills, but overall plays like a PF. Has very good potential, as scouts believe he will be able to bulk up without affecting his game.

IF Drew Gooden is the pick:

Then it's a signal of future changes for the Warriors. Gooden would make Danny Fortson expendable. Or Antawn Jamison. Or Troy Murphy. The Warriors have a bit of a logjam at PF, but a talented PF in Gooden might make the picture clear. The Warriors will start paying Antawn Jamison a lot of money next year (10+ million/year). Jamison is really untradeable because of the Base Year Cap status of his contract. However, a little competition might ensure that Jamison earns his  money, and might provide the Warriors with multiple options for the future. Golden State's roster has it's share of  players with average talent and large contracts. It never  hurts to have young talented players still in their rookie  contracts. A roster shakeup might benefit the Warriors, and Gooden may be one of the new building blocks for the future.

Dejuan Wagner PG/SG Memphis 6--2 200

Wagner nearly entered the NBA draft out of high school. He once scored 100 points in a high-school game, and he's been on NBA radar screens for a while now. But now as an  experienced college player (1 year at Memphis), he looks  to make his mark in the NBA. There isn't a reason to wait,  as Wagner stands to be an impact player during his pro career.  A pure scorer, Wagner is often compared to Allen Iverson. He's  in the same mold as a shoot-first Point Guard or a pass-second Shooting Guard. However, Wagner is bigger and stronger than A.I. He can get his shot wherever he wants, even if he tends to take it too much.

IF Dejuan Wagner is the pick:

If Jay Williams is the girl you wanted to take to the High School prom, then Dejuan Wagner might be the really fun girl who asked you the day before when you didn't have a date. Wagner would be an interesting option for the Warriors if  they couldn't obtain Williams. The question would be if he would be able to initiate and run an NBA offense. The Warriors drafted their SG of the future in Jason  Richardson last year. If Wagner and Richardson were able to mesh their games on the court, then a three guard rotation with Gilbert Arenas would be very dangerous. However,  fire power alone, isn't all the Warriors need. They really do need someone to take care of the basketball, and set up other players. If Wagner can dish the ball half as well as he shoots it, he might be the Warriors Answer.

Maybyner "Nene" Hilario PF Brazil 6-11 260

A 19-year-old Brazilian import, Nene's stock has been  rising fast. He has a 7'4" wingspan, and might even  play Center in the NBA. Good shotblocker. He's an  incredible athlete, and he's polished his game against  international competition. It's been reported that he's having great workouts for teams.

IF "Nene" Hilario is the pick:  The pick would indicate a shakeout of the frontcourt with some type of trade of current players in the  works. If the Warriors take him, he would be expected  to eventually play Center and man the post. They  could use an upgrade over Erick Dampier and Adonal  Foyle, and Hilario could be just that. He would  not have the first year impact that some other  picks might. However, if he is capable of being an NBA center, teams are always looking for players with size. Drafting Hilario to play PF doesn't make much sense  unless the Warriors are not happy with Antawn Jamison,  Danny Fortson, and Troy Murphy. He's included here  because it's been reported that he's been rising up draft boards, and there is no telling how high he might go.

Additional Moves the Warriors Might Make

The team is going to have to deal with Larry Hughes.  If they can find a sign-and-trade that brings something  back for him, it would be great. It would be even better  if they could package Hughes with another player, and  receive a veteran PG.

The Warriors don't have teams knocking down the doors making offers for players, but they do have a couple of tradeable players.

Chris Mills is in the last year of his contract and might be attractive to a team trying to clear cap space. Adonal Foyle and Bobby Sura are free agents in 2 years, and either player would be a useful reserve. Danny Fortson is a tough rebounder and he might be on the block after several outburst at teammates and management this past season.

Expect the team to do something to try to add another player in the backcourt. They'll be looking for help later in the draft, with rookie free agents, or by signing a veteran free agent. The Warriors 2nd Round draft pick will be put to good use.

Other moves the team might make are moving up or down in the draft. It would not be unthinkable for them to go to great lengths to obtain Jay Williams. Williams appears to be the perfect blend of talent and need for this  Warriors team, and the team already has a stable of young  players. Giving up future draft picks may allow the Warriors  to swing a deal.

If they don't move up, they very well may move down.  They could still get value later in the lottery, and they may be able to force a team to take a undesirable contract in the process.

Finally, the Warriors would love to add a veteran. They have plenty of young players, and they could use a veteran leaders influence in the locker room and on the court.