NBA Draft Grades: Rounding up Warriors grades from league experts
The Golden State Warriors added two upperclassmen in the 2023 NBA Draft. What did the experts have to say about their performance with picks No. 19 and No. 57?
The Golden State Warriors entered Thursday’s NBA Draft with the No. 19 pick after making big moves earlier in the day. New GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. swung a trade to acquire Chris Paul in exchange for Jordan Poole and future draft assets. Then, he traded Patrick Baldwin Jr. to acquire the No. 57 pick in the second round.
The Warriors’ ended up with two new rookies as a result: Santa Clara’s Brandin Podziemski, the No. 19 pick, and Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, the No. 57 pick. Both players adhere to the front office’s renewed focus on maximizing the current title window.
Golden State is under a lot of pressure to contend while Stephen Curry is still hanging on to his prime, but these rookies have the potential to contribute for years beyond the current iteration of the team. With that in mind, what did the experts think of Golden State’s performance on draft night?
2023 NBA Draft Grades: Experts grade Warriors’ picks of Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis
Brandin Podziemski: C+
"His shooting stroke will shine, especially with all of the clean looks he’ll find as teams focus on stopping Paul, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Saying that, Podziemski’s athletic limitations are hard to overlook when Golden State often appeared a step slow defensively this postseason."
Trayce Jackson-Davis: A+
Brandin Podziemski: B-
"The Illinois transfer really broke out because he can shoot off catch or dribble and was very efficient in college. The problem is he’s not a great athlete and lacks ideal length, and now he’s joining an aging backcourt of Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Klay Thompson. How will that fit work?"
Trayce Jackson-Davis: A
"I don’t give out ‘A’s very often in the second round, but I’ll slap my stamp of approval happily here on this one. Jackson-Davis was a first round prospect for me so this pick for the Warriors at No. 57 feels like robbery. He was a productive four-year college player at Indiana whose shooting touch could allow him in time to develop a perimeter shot and be a floor-spacing threat."
Brandin Podziemski: B+
"After trading Jordan Poole, new Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. brings in a combo guard with similar strengths and similarly audacious shot selection. A statistical darling, Podziemski’s most noteworthy skill is his shooting touch: He shoots an absolute moonball that glides smoothly through the net. His outrageous accuracy from the perimeter opened up his game as a playmaker in the pick-and-roll last season, and he’s about to learn from two of the best in Steph Curry and Chris Paul. He may not have the requisite athleticism to thrive the way he played at Santa Clara, but his deadeye shooting will give him plenty of opportunities with the Warriors, who made a similar bet in the first round last season with Patrick Baldwin Jr."
Brandin Podziemski: A
"Great pick. The Warriors have fumbled the last few drafts with high-upside, low-floor picks that didn’t fit the immediate title-contending window of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors get one of the best immediate contributor bets outside the lottery."
Trayce Jackson-Davis: A
"The Warriors get excellent value in Trayce Jackson-Davis, who fell further than expected. He supplies a vertical threat at the rim and he’s an above-average passer with upside as a playmaking hub in the post. The Warriors always benefit from plus passers in the frontcourt."
While opinions are split on Podziemski, he was the No. 17 prospect on the FanSided board and he feels like a tremendous fit with Golden State. He’s one of the smartest players on the board, always making rapid-fire decisions to keep the offense clicking. Golden State’s system is notoriously complex and difficult for young players to grasp. Podziemski should be able to keep up.
He’s an elite long-range shooter with endless confidence and real secondary playmaking utility operating out of pick-and-rolls. Podziemski is a limited athlete and he will be limited in the self-creation department, but he’s crafty on finishes around the paint and he’s excellent at cutting and relocating without the ball.
Defensively there are concerns, yes, but Podziemski is a heads-up team defender who blows up a lot of plays with his activity level, even if he will struggle in certain on-ball matchups.
Trayce Jackson-Davis was the No. 39 prospect on the FanSided board. His slide to the tail end of the second round shocked a lot of people. Undersized centers who can’t shoot have inherent downside, but Jackson-Davis is a truly multi-faceted offensive player who operates with the proper toughness on defense. The Warriors are the perfect team for his skill set to blossom.
Golden State will probably rely more on veterans than rookies next season, but Podziemski especially feels like a player who can scrap his way to an early role with strong practices and a winning attitude.
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