The 2020 NBA Draft came and went on Wednesday night however the night did not go quite as expected.

Hours before Adam Silver announced who the first pick in the 2020 NBA Draft would be the news broke that Klay Thompson suffered a lower leg injury to his right leg while working out in Southern California. Early this morning is was confirmed after imaging that Thompson suffered a season ending Achilles tear.

Needless to say that news put a damper on what was billed to be an exciting night for the Golden State Warriors as they had the number 2 pick in the draft.

Golden State went on to select James Wiseman with the second overall pick in the draft.

They also selected Nico Mannion out of Arizona with the 48th overall pick and Justinian Jessup with the 51st pick.

The WarriorsTalk writers rallied together and decided with all that went down on Wednesday night a roundtable piece was warranted.

1. What are your initial thoughts on how draft night went down for the Warriors?

Pete:

Unfortunately, draft night was overshadowed by the Klay Thompson injury news that dropped right before the start of the event (praying that there’s hope it’s not as serious as believed to be.) But in the aftermath of the news, I think it was key for the Warriors to stick to their gameplan and not make any irrational moves. The fan in me would have entertained some type of trade to go down, netting a few additional assets, but if Golden State’s plan was to see their planned approach to fruition, then I’d say it was the right move to make.

Alex:

Obviously, the night had a damper put on it by the unfortunate news surrounding Klay Thompson and the subsequent speculation. For the sake of this discussion, I’ll put that aside and focus solely on the draft. I would describe the night for the Warriors as solid, but unspectacular. They made smart picks that were definitely logical given the state of the team and who was on the board at the time. I don’t feel as though they took any major risks, which might be the right call given that they were in the rare position of having the second overall choice while also thinking about the potential of a title next season. Simply put, they took care of business and didn’t do anything overwhelmingly good or bad.

Candice:

In an underwhelming draft, the Warriors found a way to come out with a somewhat bright spot. While there is limited film on Wiseman, he appears coachable and checks a box that the Warriors desperately needed marked. It is hard to focus on the addition, with the injury news to Klay Thompson breaking hours prior to the draft, but Wiseman has upside that can prove to be beneficial to the current Warriors system.

Carlos:

Well, Klay Thompson’s injury certainly put a hamper on the night. I don’t think it changed their strategy -- I think they were eyeing James Wiseman the entire time -- but the uncertainty around Thompson’s injury might have impacted any potential deals they would have negotiated.

2. In your opinion, did Golden State make the right decision with the second overall pick? (Made the pick/ traded the pick away)

Pete:

I think they would have traded down only if they really felt they were unsure any of the top three prospects could help the current roster in any way, so as a result, I’m fine with them holding onto the pick. As to their selection, James Wiseman was the obvious choice and I’d say they made the right decision in calling his name. Wiseman fills a need as Golden State was often at the expense of their opponents on the boards, and his rebounding prowess should be a welcome addition. If the development is there, he could very well be the Warriors’ center of the future. That pick-and-roll with Steph will be something to watch, so long as Steve Kerr lets the potential lobs come to fruition.

Alex:

Although I still believe that trading the pick and possibly their traded player exception for an established player and a lower lottery pick would have been a slightly better option, I don’t fault them for taking James Wiseman. They weren’t getting strong enough offers to make a move and decided to get someone they could develop from scratch. Plus, while Wiseman is hardly a sure thing, he has a lot of good qualities. He’s long, athletic, quick, capable of running the pick and roll, has some shooting touch and plays around the rim nicely on both ends of the court. Over the last several seasons, the Warriors have been at their best when they have at least one or two players who fit that description, so he makes sense in their game plan.

Candice:

While Wiseman gives the Dubs needed length and athleticism, the state of Klay Thompson’s legs will decided whether or not Wiseman was the right move. If the injury isn’t catastrophic, Wiseman will fit well with the Warriors. If Thompson is out for the season, the Warriors will need to trade for a two-guard.

Carlos:

Early in the day, it was reported that the Warriors were in discussion with the Chicago Bulls to swap their pick with the Bulls’ fourth overall selection and Wendell Carter Jr. Personally, I liked that deal even though Carter is a bit undersized. In the scenario where they kept the pick, I liked LaMelo Ball, but I do understand the Wiseman pick -- the big man feels like a safer move as he might have a higher floor than Ball or anyone else available.

3. After tonight’s draft, do you feel that Golden State made moves to improve their roster? Why or why not?

Pete:

Selecting Wiseman at number two will help them on the boards, which is something this roster lacked a season ago. As for selecting Justinian Jessup (who is already set to play in Australia), that was clearly a “stash pick,” and I’m curious as to choosing to pass on Cassius Winston here. Nico Mannion’s playmaking could give him a shot at taking Ky Bowman’s spot as the backup point guard. All in all, I think Wiseman has a good shot at helping in the short term while Mannion could carve himself a nice role off the bench, but free agency will ultimately be the determining factor in upgrading the roster. And with Klay’s potential significant injury, that statement rings even more true than before.

Alex:

Ultimately, yes, the roster was improved. Just about any time you add players to your squad, it’s going to be an improvement because you’re giving yourself more options. This draft was no different. Wiseman will be a nice compliment to Marquese Chriss and the two will probably push each other. The same relationship is likely true for second-round pick Nico Mannion and Ky Bowman. The Warriors also indicated they’re thinking about the long-term with their stash selection of Justinian Jessup, as storing him in Australia gives the team increased flexibility.

Candice:

The Warriors upgraded their potential starting lineup while adding virtually nothing to the bench. Both second round draft picks do not exhibit the athleticism to defend or the shot consistency to spot up on the perimeter.

Carlos:

I think if Wiseman is what they hope he will be then yes, they made a big move to get better. They desperately needed rebounding and rim protection and Wiseman’s athleticism should be a big step up in that regard. I’m not sure if they necessarily made a huge improvement in the short term, however, given that big men take a little longer to develop, particularly defensively. In the longterm though, Wiseman could seriously blossom next to Draymond Green over the next few years.

4. If you were to give a letter grade for the Warriors draft, what would it be and why?

Pete:

If James Wiseman was the prospect that Bob Myers wanted at number two then he got his guy without being swayed and making any spur of the moment trades. Trading down was always an option, but only if they truly felt that the top prospect on their board would be within that range. There are no sure home run picks in this draft, but they drafted with fit in mind and added some potential depth in Mannion. I’d give the Warriors a “B” grade, and overall a successful offseason will be determined by what they do now in free agency.

Alex:

I’d give them a C+. To be clear, it was incredibly unlikely that they’d get an A and equally unlikely that they’d get an F. This draft was just too wide-open and had too many question marks surrounding it for either option to be the case. There were certainly some less-than-perfect parts of this draft. As I mentioned previously, I would have preferred for the Warriors to trade down. There are legitimate concerns about Wiseman’s readiness for the NBA, and there’s an argument to be made that Onyeka Okongwu would have been a better choice as a center. Similarly, both Cassius Winston and Cassius Stanley were still available at the time of the Mannion selection, and they could be stronger fits. But Wiseman’s skill and fit can’t be overlooked, Mannion is a pretty good pick in a vacuum and the Warriors still have plenty of options open to improve the team. Considering the uncertainty surrounding some of their key rotation players, that’s not a bad place to be in at all.

Candice:

Grade: A-. The Warriors did what they were supposed to do in the first round in drafting Wiseman. He is a 7’1 springy center, who has bought into being a role player. The draft overall was considered a “weak draft” leaving the Warriors without exceptional steals in the late second-round. Both picks will likely need a year or two of development before being NBA ready. Nico Mannion has the potential to be a facilitator off the bench, paired with Damion Lee and Jordan Poole. Justinian Jessup is a 6’7 shooting guard who can develop into a solid spot up shooter. Considering this was a weaker draft, the Dubs did a pretty solid job.

Carlos:

I’m going to give them a B+. Wiseman was their best option. Setting my Ball bias to the side, I’m not sure they could really pass on the center. He fills a need and his “worst-case scenario” development still allows him to be a formidable player. Even if he doesn’t become a star, he can still grab rebounds and finish plays around the rim with his athleticism.