Why Jay Bilas would draft James Wiseman No. 1 if Warriors get top pick

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This might come as a surprise to many of you, but ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas is not the general manager of the Warriors.

That job belongs to Bob Myers.

But if Bilas were running Golden State's front office -- and if the Dubs were to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft -- who would he select?

"I think James Wiseman would be the pick," Bilas said Thursday on KNBR 680. "At least for me, because I think he's the best prospect. But it's pretty close. Anthony Edwards is a freak athlete and a ridiculous scorer. He just doesn't know how to play yet.

"But I'm a big believer in Wiseman and his ability. I think he could be special."

Wiseman -- the 7-footer who played only three games as a freshman at Memphis this past season -- is considered the No. 3 overall prospect by ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony.

Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer has Wiseman at seventh on his big board.

"For Golden State, I have a hard time thinking it would be anybody except for James Wiseman because you think about what he could be at his best," O'Connor told NBC Sports Bay Area this week. "I would have him higher (on his board) if I was told Golden State will take him because of how much situation plays a role in the success or failure of a player.

"Wiseman in Golden State could immediately use his athletic talents as a rim-running center. As a guy who would have Draymond (Green) and Klay Thompson and Steve Kerr and veteran coaches in a winning environment really helping him on the defensive end of the floor.

"For Golden State, what a new wrinkle -- imagine adding a big center like him to your formula ... having a big body in today's league is still important. For Golden State, I'm thinking that he makes a heckuva a lot of sense."

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If the Warriors get the No. 1 pick and pass on Wiseman, you can assume two things:

One, they feel comfortable with Kevon Looney and Marquese Chriss. And two, they will sign a veteran big man (or two) in free agency, or acquire a center through their $17.2 million traded player exception. 

[RELATED: Warriors should pursue Giannis, but they have other options]

But if the Warriors' brain trust decides Wiseman is the guy?

"There's gonna be less demand on him," O'Connor said. "The expectations aren't gonna be there for him to have to be Rudy Gobert on the defensive end of the floor. He doesn't need to be Joel Embiid on offense ... I think they could really maximize some of his strengths."

Are there any red flags?

"The No. 1 concern with him would be his passing ability," O'Connor explained. "You think about how Golden State whips the ball around the court ... he's a good screener for a young guy, but the passing ability is not always there at a high level.

"That's the big question I would want answered above anything else -- how much can this guy fit into the fast-paced offense that requires quick decision making?"

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