The Golden State Warriors have a 0.8 percent chance of nabbing
the No. 1 pick in Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery.
”
It seems like every year, somebody moves up,
”
said Larry Riley, the Warriors executive vice president of
basketball operations.
”
If we get it, we will definitely celebrate. But I’m not banking
on it happening.
”
Golden State, which is slotted at No. 11, is entering the 2011
draft lottery with a different tone than in the past.
OAKLAND
The Golden State Warriors have a 0.8 percent chance of nabbing the No. 1 pick in Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery.
“It seems like every year, somebody moves up,” said Larry Riley, the Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations. “If we get it, we will definitely celebrate. But I’m not banking on it happening.”
Golden State, which is slotted at No. 11, is entering the 2011 draft lottery with a different tone than in the past.
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Usually, the Warriors hope the bounce of the Ping-Pong balls will move them up to one of the top three picks. This year, even if the Warriors wind up with the top pick, the draft doesn’t appear to have the kind of impact big man Golden State is looking for.
Co-owner Joe Lacob will represent the Warriors at the draft lottery. Riley said Lacob seems to have pretty good luck, but it will take just shy of a miracle to draw the top pick. Only once has the team slotted No. 11 before the lottery moved up that high. Orlando did it in 1993, when the Magic drafted Chris Webber and traded him to Golden State for Penny Hardaway.
The Warriors, who are participating in the draft lottery for the 10th time in 11 years, and for the 19th time in its 26-year history, haven’t moved up since 1995, when they went from No. 5 to No. 1 and drafted Joe Smith. Since then they’ve dropped down five times, including in 2002, when they slipped from tied for No. 1 to No. 3 and wound up picking Mike Dunleavy. The Houston Rockets got the No. 1 pick and took Yao Ming.
The Warriors have been assigned just eight of the 1,000 possible four-ball combinations for this lottery. Minnesota, owner of the NBA’s worst record, has the best chance of landing the top pick (25 percent), followed by Cleveland (19.9 percent) and Toronto (15.6 percent).
“The way we’re looking at it,” Riley said, “we’re staying at 11. We need to get a good player. I don’t see a guy at 11 that will change your franchise. What we have to do is improve the roster via trades and free agency.”
Arizona sophomore forward Derrick Williams is the front-runner to be the top pick in the draft next month. Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving also will be in the mix.
This draft is already being classified as weak, with few potential stars among the candidates. That seems to be fine with the Warriors, who need more talent but aren’t desperate for a franchise changer.
Riley said trading up in the draft will be evaluated, though he acknowledged that such a move is usually difficult. On the market for a big man and some bench help, the Warriors will look to fill a hole with the draft. They have a 0.95 percent chance of landing the No. 2 pick, and a 1.15 percent chance of getting the No. 3.
The Warriors aren’t holding their breath.
— Story by Marcus Thompson II, Contra Costa Times
