Golden State Warriors: Worst-Case Scenarios for Next Year - Bleacher Report

Obviously, no team can afford to draft poorly, but the Warriors really need to do well.

If they draft right or trade the picks successfully, or draft to trade successfully, they could be near locks for the playoffs. I'm a big proponent of trading their picks up for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. (If you aren't convinced, read this).

However, if they do keep their picks, they need to draft wisely. With the No. 7 pick, there are a few people who they might have the option to take. Management says they want frontcourt depth or a starting small forward, but they claim they'll take the best player available and trade if they need to. So there's only so much bad they can do.

For example, if Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard are still available, they might take them and trade them.

The worst that management could do with the seventh pick is: 

A) Draft a guard and plan to keep him.

B) Draft a player with little trade value and get stuck with them. The Warriors are willing to immediately trade the player they draft if he isn't a good fit. However, if they take a guy who other teams don't like, that opportunity may be lost. 

C) Draft Jeremy Lamb and start him at small forward. Jeremy Lamb has the upside to be the No. 7 pick, but the last thing the Warriors need is another undersized wing. That's why they traded Monta Ellis.

D) Draft the wrong big man. The Warriors will need a big man who can play either post position and play good defense.

What they don't need is another undersized score-first project. Unfortunately, there have been a lot of rumors of them taking Jared Sullinger. Not only would they be taking a guy who doesn't fit, but they'd be dipping too low as far as talent and potential goes.

Tyler Zeller is in a similar category. Meyers Leonard is an acceptable stretch, but for this team, he still isn't worth the No. 7 overall pick in one of the best drafts in history.

Unless they trade down, the only big they should draft that has any chance of falling to No. 7 (Robinson doesn't) is Andre Drummond. But that is highly unlikely. 

E) Draft Harrison Barnes and stick with him. I like Barnes, but the last thing the Warriors need is another spot-up shooter who can't create his own shot. If he falls that low, they may consider taking him for his trade value.

Still, for the future at the small forward position, the Warriors specifically need an athletic slasher. (If they can't draft MKG, they need to trade for one.)

It sounds like they should trade the pick or the player, unless a miracle occurs.