Seven centers Warriors could target in 2020 NBA Draft

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James Ham examines seven center prospects the Warriors could take with their No. 2, No. 48 or No. 51 draft picks.

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We are in the final sprint to the 2020 NBA Draft and the Warriors have plenty of options to sift through. One of the biggest team needs is a long-term solution at center, which Golden State could address in a big way with the No. 2 overall pick. They could also wait until the second round and hope someone falls to them.

Coach Steve Kerr likes to go small for long stretches, but he’s also relied heavily on players like Andrew Bogut and JaVale McGee in the past. With the No. 2 overall pick, there are a pair of high-level bigs that could fit right in, but if Golden State trades down or waits until the second round, they should have a few more options as well.

Here is a look at seven centers that might fit the Warriors' squad when they are on the clock at picks No. 2, 48 and 51 in the upcoming draft.

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Measurables: 7-foot-1, 235 pounds 
Age: 19

Wiseman is one of the highest ceiling players in this draft and is considered a top five selection.

If the Warriors want to land him, they have no choice but to bite the bullet with the No. 2 overall pick. Wiseman only played three games at the NCAA level, but he’s been a top prospect from a young age.

He can run the floor, block shots and there is potential for him to develop into a top tier center down the road.

With the Warriors, he would be used as a rim runner and defensive anchor early in his career with the hopes that his offensive game continues to improve with time.

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Measurables: 6-foot-9, 245 pounds 
Age: 19

Like Wiseman, Okongwu is considered a top 10 pick in this year’s draft. If the Warriors fall in love with the defensive-minded big they might have a few options.

They could select him at No. 2 and take away the guesswork. If they can find a taker, the Warriors could try to move down three or four spots and collect additional assets, but it’s a gamble.

Okongwu is more NBA ready than Wiseman, but his ceiling isn’t quite as high. He can score in the post, rebound and he’s shown an ability to put a team on his back. He also has limited shooting range and is slightly undersized for the five.

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Measurables: 6-foot-9, 225 pounds 
Age: 21

Like Okongwu, Achiuwa is an option if the Warriors decide to trade back in the draft.

Slated to go anywhere from No. 9 all the way to the late lottery, Achiuwa is raw, but intriguing. He’s shown some ability to shoot from the perimeter, but he’s a big body that sets mean screens and is tough to stop as the roller in a two-man game.

Achiuwa is a shot blocker, but also a strong positional defender and he has plenty of room to grow and expand his game.

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Measurables: 6-foot-10, 220 pounds 
Age: 22

Tillie couldn’t stay healthy at Gonzaga, which will cost him dearly on draft night. It’s very possible that he makes it all the way down to where the Warriors are selecting at picks No. 48 and 51.

He can shoot from the outside, knocking down 44.4 percent over his four years at the NCAA level. Tillie isn’t a great rebounder and he’s more of a team defender than a stopper, but he fits in the modern NBA as a floor spacing big with good court vision and a high basketball IQ.

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Measurables: 6-foot-10, 265 pounds 
Age: 19

Carey is different than any player the Warriors have on their roster. He put up big numbers as a freshman at Duke, although most of his work was done on the interior.

He’s a banger with soft hands and a big body. He won’t get pushed around, although there are some concerns about his ability to defend on the perimeter.

If he falls all the way to pick No. 48, the Warriors would have to take a serious look. He’ll need lots of work with a professional training staff to maximize his skill set, but Carey Jr. has a ton of potential.

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Measurables: 7-foot, 270 pounds 
Age: 21

Azubuike is a huge man with a crazy 7-foot-7 wingspan and a body built for 1990s NBA basketball.

He can be a defensive anchor for a team, but even after four years at Kansas, he is still a work in progress as a prospect. The team that drafts Azubuike will need to put in a lot of work, but his size and length is elite.

He’s slated to go in the early second round, but there is a chance he falls on draft night down to where the Warriors are selecting.

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Measurables: 7-foot, 245 pounds 
Age: 22

A bit of a late bloomer, Richards came on strong in his junior year at Kentucky. Measuring in at 7-foot, with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Richards is a prototypical rim runner.

He’s athletic, can block shots and understands his role. On the downside, he can disappear at times and has very limited range. Kentucky players usually have more to their game when they get to the pros and Richards might be worth a gamble in the late second-round.

He should be available when the Warriors select at No. 51, although he’ll likely need time at the G League level.

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