Too bad. Because if we could take Thursday's NBA draft at face value, the Warriors' mission would be an easy read. They need a point guard, and this draft is neck-deep in them.

See how simple?

Alas, simplicity is discouraged at all costs. There must be subterfuge and misdirection, because that keeps the conversation alive. And if there isn't conversation in the days leading up to the draft, we're left with, "A Retrospective: Donald Fehr, the Wild Fraternity Years."

The Warriors' mission might be different if they had the first pick in the draft. Then there would be a want vs. need issue, the kind of thing that creates dramatic tension where it otherwise might not exist. Power forward Blake Griffin is universally regarded as the class of this draft. If the Warriors picked first, they might have to consider taking him and filling their point guard need some other way say, via trade, the CBA or coaxing Mookie Blaylock out of retirement.

But they're not drafting first; they're drafting seventh.

A survey of a half-dozen mock drafts Tuesday identified 10 point guards, or point guard types, almost certain to be drafted in the first round. Of those, six are, by consensus, top-10 worthy Ricky Rubio, considered a lock to go at No. 4 to Sacramento; Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry, widely expected to go in the 5-6 range (a reported Minnesota-Washington trade could impact that scenario); and Jrue Holiday, Jonny Flynn and Brandon Jennings, who, depending on the mock draft, either just squeeze into the top 10 or just miss.

Some are small, some are young, some are 1-2 hybrids. None are without flaw or risk. But all are better than what the Warriors already have. Because what they already have is Monta Ellis, the biggest risk of all since he doesn't have a point guard's mentality or a point guard's skill set.

What Ellis has is a point guard's body, which is why it seemed plausible when Don Nelson, upon re-entering the Warriors compound three years ago, proclaimed Ellis' professional future was at the point. Ellis is saying the right things about playing there, but his actions on the court make it clear he thinks of himself as a scorer first and second, and a facilitator during whatever time is left over.

Any vision of a glorious future that has Ellis at point guard seems a real wish upon a star. Which brings us back to a draft saturated with young men who would love to have the job.

See how simple?

The Warriors , of course, are playing the game. The name of Arizona power forward Jordan Hill keeps coming up, and they've done little to discourage the chatter. The question would be how he fits in, since the Warriors have taken power forwards in the first round of the past two drafts. Maybe they're itching to try a lineup of Andris Biedrins at center, Hill, Brandan Wright and Anthony Randolph at power forward, and Ellis as a shoot-first point guard. They could call it big ball, or tall ball, or Fruit Loops hoops.

Or maybe they think drafting Hill would allow them to trade a power forward for a point guard, or to move up or down in the draft to target the guy they really want. That's part of the subterfuge game, too.

It seems so overly complicated. If you look closely, there's a point to this draft: As in, the Warriors need one.

Contact Gary Peterson at gpeterson@bayareanewsgroup.com