Five players Warriors could target with No. 7 draft pick

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The Warriors ended up with the most likely result in Tuesday night's NBA draft lottery, landing the No. 14 overall pick and seventh overall pick, conveyed by the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Andrew Wiggins-D'Angelo Russell trade.

A trade still could be in the works if the Warriors are looking to add a star, but if the Warriors elect to keep both selections, they could add a higher-upside player at seven and then a more pro-ready prospect at 14.

Now that the results are official, let's examine five players the Warriors should be targeting when they go on the clock at No. 7.

Scottie Barnes, Florida State

A former five-star recruit, Barnes fits the profile of what the Warriors have emphasized from their roster in recent years.

At 6-foot-9, Barnes served a number of roles for the Seminoles during his lone collegiate season. His seemingly pedestrian numbers (10.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.1 APG) were a product of his willingness to be a sixth man for Florida State, as he started just seven of his team's 24 games.

He offered some similarities to how Warriors star Draymond Green operated as a college player, sometimes serving as the point guard and other times matching up with centers and power forwards on both ends of the court.

Barnes also averaged 2.1 steals per 36 minutes, and while his 3-point shooting percentage left something to be desired, the 19-year-old could be a versatile contributor for the Warriors right away if the team elects to hang onto the top-10 selection.

Davion Mitchell, Baylor

Mitchell has lived up to his incredible nickname, "Off night," as he was one of college basketball's best defensive players last season, helping lead the Baylor Bears to a national championship.

In the NBA's recent shift to 3-and-D players on the wing, Mitchell is just about the perfect archetype. A 44.7 percent clip from 3-point range underscores an outstanding 61.3 effective field goal percentage.

If Klay Thompson isn't quite ready for the season opener in October, a player like Mitchell could take pressure off the Warriors' defense and lock on to the best opposing guard.

Mitchell will turn 23 before the start of his rookie season, but with the Warriors expecting to be a contender, the Baylor product could be a high-value reserve for Steve Kerr.

Franz Wagner, Michigan

The German-born wing already has an older brother, Mo, in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Wolverine showed an elite ability to take care of the ball during his two collegiate seasons, and is a playmaker and high-level decision-maker on offense.

Unlike some of his fellow lottery prospects, Wagner offers traits the Warriors could utilize right away in their rotation, and is a good enough defender to play key minutes in crunch time.

Wagner struggled mightily in his final collegiate game in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, but as ESPN's Mike Schmitz noted leading up to Tuesday's draft lottery, he is way more experienced than many of the other 19-year-olds in this class.

Someone who will know his role and play with a high basketball IQ seems right up the alley of what the Warriors would want from a rookie. His college choice might not thrill Draymond Green, but his game certainly would.

RELATED: Projected contracts for Warriors No. 7, 14 NBA draft picks

 

Moses Moody, Arkansas

If the Warriors want someone who both could contribute right away and offers long-term upside, Moody would be a pretty good choice. The former Razorback won't turn 20 until near the end of next season's playoffs, but already is an elite perimeter defender who carries a 7-foot wingspan on a 6-6 frame.

Moody also shot 35.8 percent from behind the arc on over five attempts per game, and shouldn't have much of a problem getting his shot off with that elite wingspan.

Moody's assist numbers weren't great at Arkansas, but the Warriors wouldn't need him to be a shot creator right off the bat as a rookie.

Arkansas is known for playing at a rapid pace and emphasizing defense, skills that would translate instantly in the Warriors' locker room.

Jalen Johnson, Duke

The Warriors have seen success with Milwaukee natives Kevon Looney and Jordan Poole, and Johnson very well could be the next one.

A 6-foot-9 forward, Johnson is an outstanding athlete who rebounds and blocks shots extraordinarily well, but did struggle with turning the ball over during his lone college season. Johnson certainly would provide plenty of highlights in a Warriors uniform.

Johnson very well could be available to the Warriors at No. 14 as well, but his youth and potential on both ends might lead another team in between the Warriors' lottery picks to reach.

The 19-year-old would be more of a project than some of the other players mentioned, but so was James Wiseman coming out of college.

With the right coaching staff and team around him, Johnson could become a phenomenal NBA player. 

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