Haberstroh says Okongwu would help Warriors most next season

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The majority of the basketball world will not be surprised if the Warriors end up trading the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

But if the franchise decides to keep the selection, who is the player who would help Golden State the most next season?

"The guy is Onyeka Okongwu," Tom Haberstroh told NBC Sports Bay Area's Grant Liffmann this week. "I think he is Bam Adebayo 2.0, and I don't want to say he's gonna be (him) right out of the gate.

"Just remember, Bam wasn't this Bam until three years into the league. So although he showed promise as a two-way center, it's gonna take a couple years.

"But Okongwu is sensational defensively. I love his game. At No. 2, I think he's the best prospect for them to upgrade right now."

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The 6-foot-9 big man averaged 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.2 steals as a freshman for the USC Trojans last season.

"The Warriors are actually higher on Southern Cal’s Okongwu than James Wiseman," the San Francisco Chronicle's Connor Letourneau reported in mid-May. "If they end up taking a big man in the top five, it’ll almost definitely be the 6-foot-9 Okongwu.

"His game is well-suited for the Warriors’ style. Unlike Wiseman, Okongwu can shuttle between multiple positions with ease."

Adebayo -- the No. 14 overall pick in the 2017 draft -- was an All-Star with the Miami Heat this season, averaging 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game.

If Okongwu becomes "Bam 2.0" in a Warriors uniform, that would be a game-changer for the organization.

"We have a similar body, similar athleticism," Okongwu told ESPN's Mike Schmitz months ago. "It's an honor to be compared to him."

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