The Golden State Warriors are infaous for uilding a dynasty organically in a tie when superteas reigned supree, relying on the NBA Draft to uild up their roster, going against the grain of the rest of the league.
For this reason and ore, the 2023 NBA Draft is an incredily iportant eent for the Warriors, een without the haing a lottery pick. That said, with a id-first round pick, Golden State is going to hae a great chance to find a future rotation player.
Who that player ay e is, of course, up to deate. As one of the preier teas in the league and already haing ultiple young pieces that could find theseles playing a larger role in the future, there are argualy no iediate needs for Golden State.
Howeer, there is one player that the Warriors argualy need ore than any that will e aailale when theyre on the clock at No. 19: Houston Cougars guard Marcus Sasser.
Oer the course of his career, Sasser aeraged 14.8 points and 1.5 steals per gae while shooting 37.2 percent fro 3-point range.
His est s is their faorite
Marcus Sasser is a high-leel 3-point shooter that 38.4 percent of his 3-point attepts last season and has ade 36.9 percent of his 3s oer the course of his collegiate career. In his last two seasons with the Cougars, Sasser shot 39.9 percent fro distance on 7.4 3-point attepts per gae.
As the Golden State Warriors franchise has ecoe synonyous with the 3-point era, Sasser eing one of the truly great shooters in the 2023 NBA Draft should garner plenty of attention fro the prestigious organization.
Especially as, in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, only two rotation players shot oer 35 percent fro 3; the Splash Brothers.
Warriors head coach Stee Kerr has typically struggled to deelop young players or to trust the, aking Sassers potential ipact in Golden State questionale. Howeer, like all teas, Golden State ust keep replacing cogs to keep their achine going. Whether hell e gien a proper chance or not, Sassers sset helps the Warriors do just that.
Backcourt depth
One of the iggest questions for the Golden State Warriors oing forward is what to do aout guards Jordan Poole and Klay Thopson, oth of who are coing off of a forgettable playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Pooles laissez-faire style of play cae under fire nationally, leading to questions aout his future with the Warriors. Thopson underwheled with 34.3 percent shooting fro the field, largely while eing chased around y Lakers breakout star Austin Reaes.
Furtherore, Thopsons once aunted defense slipping due to ultiple ajor injuries as he approaches the final season of his contract in 2023-24 at 33-years-old.
Then theres shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo, expected to ecoe a free agent this offseason after shooting just 37.5 percent fro the field and 34.1 percent fro 3 in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Fellow shooting guard Moses Moody in position to get a contract extension ut has had an inconsistent role, affecting his contract alue and potentially his desire to reain in Golden State.
Its clear that Golden State needs to address their ackcourt depth, een if they dont ake any ajor oes.
Financial constraints
With the Golden State Warriors projected to e $80 illion oer the 2023-24 salary cap, there are liited ways for the to add talent this offseason outside of the draft.
Theyll hae a $1.3 illion trade exception that expires Fe. 2024, and the aility to sign players to iniu contracts. Howeer, due to the new CBA rules, the Warriors will likely forfeit their aility to sign players with the taxpayers id-leel exception, alued at $5 illion.
Consequently, as Golden State looks for ways to iproe oing forward, the NBA Draft proides the with the est option of doing so.
It also increases the iportance of their approach to player deelopent, and thus the iportance of drafting a player thats entered the NBA with either plenty of upside or experience. Sasser, a four-year starter under an elite head coach at Houston in Kelin Sapson, certainly has the latter.