The Warriors brought in three more draft prospects on Thursday, and the message from the front office is getting harder to ignore. Golden State hosted Arizona guard Brayden Burries, Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., and Washington big man Hannes Steinbach for individual workouts. The team holds the 11th overall pick, and Mike Dunleavy Jr. didn’t sugarcoat what they’re looking for.
“Frankly, we need everything,” Dunleavy said earlier this week. “So we don’t need to be picky. We’ll take whoever we feel is the best player.”
That honesty tracks. The Warriors have already worked out Michigan forwards Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr., and a handful of second-round types. Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz and Baylor guard Cameron Carr also came through but didn’t talk to media afterward. Friday brings Michigan center Aday Mara and New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez.
Brayden Burries wants a team that needs him, not just wants him
Burries didn’t spend much time talking about his jumper or his handle. He talked about fit. Specifically, he talked about wanting a franchise that has a real plan for his development.
“I really 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 evolve as a player, continue to develop, continue to get better over time.”
He also mentioned wanting veterans who actually care about the next generation. The Warriors have Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, both known for mentoring young guys. Steve Kerr and Dunleavy have publicly committed to developing whoever they draft. Burries didn’t exactly say he expects to land at 11, but he seemed to like what he saw.
“I feel like I’ll fit right in,” Burries said. “Learn from vets like Stephen, Draymond, Al Horford, Jimmy, and be able to play off of them. And also be able to be an impact on both ends. I feel like as soon as I get here, I can show impact winning outside of just scoring.”
Labaron Philon Jr. grew up wearing Curry’s jersey
Philon doesn’t project as an obvious Warrior. He’s undersized, listed at 176 pounds at the combine though he says he’s now above 180. He’s a combo guard on a team that already has plenty of those. But he grew up with three No. 30 jerseys in his closet — blue, gold, and white — and the chance to share a floor with Curry clearly matters.
“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.”
Philon addressed the size concerns directly. He said his time back at Alabama helped him improve his shooting, something scouts told him needed work last year. He sees himself as a secondary ball-handler who can create when Curry is off the ball.
“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.”
Hannes Steinbach wants to be the bruiser the Warriors don’t have
Steinbach is 6-foot-11 and averaged one of the best rebounding rates in college basketball. He shot 34 percent from three on low volume, mostly in pick-and-pop situations. The Warriors put him through shooting drills and pick-and-roll work during the workout.
“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.”
Golden State has lacked a physical presence inside for years. Teams like Denver and Minnesota have bullied them on the boards. Steinbach or Mara could help there. But the German big man isn’t rushing anything. He said he talked to Dirk Nowitzki once and took one piece of advice to heart.
“He just told me to enjoy the process,” Steinbach said. “You only go through it one time, so just enjoy it.”
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