Let's give it a try, anyway: All visible signs say the Warriors will take a point guard in a draft rich with point guards, including Jonny Flynn of Syracuse and Brandon Jennings, who worked out at the Warriors facility Thursday.

After the session, Nelson and General Manager Larry Riley had a warm chat with Jennings, who came away from it beaming.

"Just thanking me for coming by," said Jennings, a prep star who played in Italy this year, "and they said, 'See you soon, hopefully.'"

Nelson and Riley also chatted with Flynn, also a potential high-tempo difference-maker. The draft is 13 days away, and everything now is NBA poker.

But no matter what the Warriors say, Monta Ellis almost certainly isn't their long-term point guard. So they're looking.

If Nelson wants a potential star with playmaking abilities, some maturity, and more size and versatility than the 6-foot Flynn, then Jennings could be tough to pass up at No. 7. Presuming he's still there.

Even Flynn acknowledged that the speedy 6-2 Jennings was a tough match-up. (Both conceded they struggled with their jumpers.)

"He's definitely one of the best at my position, if not the best," Flynn said. Later: "He's fast, he's crafty.... He knows how to use the screen-and-roll. He's a tough guy to keep in front of."

Jennings stressed that he has grown past his reputation as strictly a highlight-reel gunner and that he's a "pure pass-first point guard."

Scouts say the time in Italy riding the bench, learning angles and pick-and-roll Basketball was nice tutelage for an NBA relaunch.

Among top point-guard options, the Warriors have worked out Louisville's Terrence Williams, who isn't a pure point, and presumably will take a look at Memphis tweener Tyreke Evans, Davidson shooter-passer Stephen Curry and maybe UCLA's defensive-minded Jrue Holiday.

"Man, this has to be the deepest position for a draft in, like, forever," Flynn said, shaking his head.

A Warriors spokesman confirmed that Riley told a group of season-ticket holders Wednesday night that the team was targeting a point guard or "more beef" in the front court.

But I don't see the Warriors taking a non-shooting big man such as Arizona power forward Jordan Hill, if he slides to No. 7. How could Nelson play Hill with Andris Biedrins and Anthony Randolph?

Most league observers think it will be a point guard, either to replace Ellis (if the Warriors can get a scoring forward in a trade) or to play alongside Ellis. Jennings might be the most intriguing option either way.

"That's what I've been hearing in the media, that they're looking for a pure point guard, somebody to come in and run the team," Jennings said. "That's it, yeah. I'm that guy."

By the way, Jennings said his feelings about the Warriors won't be soured by his cousin Marcus Williams' bad experience with Nelson last season.

Flash judgment on Raiders No. 1 pick Darrius Heyward-Bey at a team workout this week: It's only June, and he has been nursing a hamstring injury, but Heyward-Bey doesn't look close to being a consistent NFL producer.

His routes are ragged and he only really looks comfortable running deep (which the cornerbacks can read) or catching bubble screens. No shock that Maryland couldn't get him the ball.

Maybe by 2010...

JaMarcus Russell, on the other hand, looked very confident and sharp in red-zone drills. I wonder: Who's he going to throw it to?

I'll be at AT&T Park tonight: The A's Vin Mazzaro vs. the Giants' offense. The Giants' Tim Lincecum vs. the A's offense.

Double no-hitter through five innings, minimum?

Read Tim Kawakami's Talking Points blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami . Contact him at tkawakami@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5442.