OAKLAND What if, when the Warriors are on the clock during the NBA draft June 25, a lauded big man is there for the taking?
What if a 6-foot-10, 235-pound, athletic inside player who some predict could go as high as No. 2 overall, is still on the board for Golden State ? What if the Warriors have a chance to nab a player who eventually could fulfill their need for a low-post scorer without slowing down their pace? "I hear some people saying they do need a point guard," Arizona junior power forward Jordan Hill said of the Warriors . "But that could change. It could be they want a big man."
Hill, 21, is perhaps unlikely to be there when the Warriors' turn comes at No. 7, considering he's regarded as the most NBA-ready big man next to Oklahoma power forward Blake Griffin, who's expected to go No. 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers. But if Hill is there, he may tempt the Warriors to disregard need and go for the best player available.
Hill held a solo workout with the Warriors on Friday morning. He said he was "pretty good" in his showing, which consisted, among other things, of running the floor, shooting midrange jumpers and working with his left hand.
He said he had dinner with Warriors coach Don Nelson on Thursday. He walked away thinking No. 7 might be the lowest he'll go.
"He said if I'm not picked in the top six," Hill said, "they're probably going to take me."
Drafting Hill could give the Warriors some flexibility to move a couple of their big men to fill a need. He also has the girth to play center well, at least more than Warriors power forwards Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright which means the Warriors theoretically could add Hill without hindering the development of Randolph.
If nothing else, Hill might be good trade bait, as the Warriors are expected to be active in the market.
Though Memphis (No. 2), Oklahoma City (No. 3) and Washington (No. 5) are in the market for a young big man, Hill said falling to No. 7 would in no way be a disappointment. He said he'd fit with the Warriors' style of play and would relish trying to fill their need for inside scoring.
Golden State already has a stable of power forward/center types in Andris Biedrins, Ronny Turiaf, Randolph and Wright. And don't forget about Rob Kurz and Jermareo Davidson deep on the bench.
But Hill would come in being arguably the most capable inside scorer, and he'd give Randolph and Biedrins a run for being the team's best rebounder. He lacks fundamentals and polish, largely because of his inexperience (only two years as a regular starter at Arizona), so he likely wouldn't walk into the starting lineup.
"I heard he's real hard on rookies," Hill said of Nelson. "That's fine. Lute Olson was that way at Arizona."
Contact Marcus Thompson II at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com
