SAN FRANCISCO – With the draft night on the horizon, the Golden State Warriors hosted three more potential lottery picks, Arizona guard Brayden Burries, Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., and Washington big man Hannes Steinbach, in their search for the perfect player to draft at 11th overall.
Previously, the Warriors worked out Michigan forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., as well as Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. They also welcomed a bevy of second-round prospects. Golden State also hosted Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz and Baylor guard Cameron Carr, but they were not available to the media following their workout.
On Friday, Golden State will host Michigan center Aday Mara and New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez.
It’s a thorough evaluation process for the Warriors as they can go many different directions with the 11th overall pick. Size, athleticism, shooting, defense, Golden State has several holes they need to address, and they know it.
“Frankly, we need everything. So we don’t need to be picky about this thing,” Mike Dunleavy Jr. said. “We’ll take whoever we feel is the best player, kind of for the next — this arc of the prime of their career that they will be coming into shortly. I think that’s the look on it, and we could use a little bit of everything.”
With that being said, here’s what Burries, Philon, and Steinbach had to say after their Warriors pre-draft workout.
Brayden Burries wants to go to the team with the “best fit” for him
One of the things Burries emphasized throughout his post-workout media availability was going to the team with the best fit for him. A likely desire for an incoming rookie who wants to maximize his potential.
“I really just want to go to a team that’s the best fit for me,” Burries said. “A team that doesn’t just want me but like needs me, who has a plan for me to help me evolve as a player, continue to develop, [and] continue to just get better over time… I really want to go somewhere where they have a vet. Where he really cares about the next generation, the younger generation.”
Burries has gotten a lot of buzz from teams in the lottery. So, the Warriors might not even be able to snag him at 11. But based on the things Burries said, Golden State checks a lot of boxes on his wishlist. The Warriors have vets who care about the younger guys. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have a great reputation among younger players. And Steve Kerr and Mike Dunleavy have verbally committed to the development of whatever rookie they select.
And on the other end, Burries has a lot of two-way tools the Warriors would be glad to add, from his swarming defense, offensive versatility on and off the ball, and his experience in a winning program.
“I feel like I’ll fit right in,” Burries said of his fit with Golden State if they draft him. “Learn from vets like Stephen Curry, Draymond, Al Horford, Jimmy, and be able to play off of them, and also be able to be an impact, not only on the offense but on the defensive end. I feel like I can, as soon as I get here, I’ll be able to show that impact winning outside of just scoring, you know? Defending, rebounding, playmaking.”
Labaron Philon Jr.’s love of Stephen Curry
Philon’s profile doesn’t exactly scream perfect fit for the Warriors in the same way a prospect like Lendeborg or Burries does. He has size and weight concerns, and his archetype as a combo guard doesn’t exactly lend itself to a cozy fit on a team with a plethora of guards.
But what is undeniable is Philon’s admiration of Curry, a player whom he grew up idolizing and crafting his game around. Philon shared that he had three No. 30 jerseys in his closet rotation growing up: a blue, a gold, and a white one, which is one of the reasons why it would mean a lot to be able to play with Curry if the Warriors draft him.
“Looking up to him, it is going to be a great opportunity, just to be able to watch him and step on the same floor as him,” Philon said with a smile. “He was one of my idols growing up.”
But beyond expressing his love for Curry, the Alabama guard did address some of the concerns in his post-draft workout.
Philon said that he is currently above the 180-pound mark after weighing 176 lbs at the combine. He also doesn’t view height as a problem at the NBA level. The former Crimson Tide guard also said returning to Alabama helped him develop his shooting, a trait he was told needed work after testing the draft last year.
Additionally, Philon does see himself as a player who could fit with the Warriors as a player who can be a secondary ball-handler off of Curry or be a primary ball-handler for when Curry is on the move.
“Just a trustworthy guard that can play inside the system, get guys open, share the ball, get paint touches,” Philon said. “I feel like I do a great job at that. My creativity of getting the paint, being able to finish, being able to spread out and find teammates at a high level, just really being a trustworthy young point guard… I would take a lot of pressure off [Curry]. At the guard spot, being able to get into the paint, create some more gravity for him, and get other guys open.”
Hannes Steinbach on translating his game to the next level
Steinbach, a player of few words, talked about how he wanted to showcase to the Warriors his shooting and his ability to make plays in the short roll, a trait he feels is essential at the NBA level. But he also detailed his potential fit in Golden State defensively as a 6′-11″ big man who was one of the best rebounders in the country.
“Draymond Green’s a great defender, so just playing off him and working with him will be great for me,” Steinbach said. “I think, just like my effort and my instincts on rebounding, just working for rebounds often and early, and taking it.”
Steinbach projects to be a big bruiser with some upside along the perimeter. He shot 34.0% on 1.8 three-point attempts per game, looking the most deadly in pick-and-pop situations. That is why the Warriors ran him through shooting drills and pick-and-roll situations.
But ultimately, the intrigue in Steinbach falls on his rebounding. Golden State has lacked a real bruiser in the paint, which is why they are interested in prospects like Steinbach and Mara. With how physical Steinbach is on the glass, and how sturdy he is keeping bigs off the offensive boards, the Warriors could use the heft to battle some of the behemoths out West.
Regardless, Steinbach is taking his pre-draft process one step at a time– a lesson he got from fellow German hooper, the legendary Dirk Nowitzki.
“I talked to him once. Yeah, he just told me to enjoy the process,” Steinbach said. “He told me you only go through one time, so just like enjoying this.”
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