Warriors GM Bob Myers received a lot of messages of praise from other executives around the league after he drafted Draymond Green 35th overall in 2012, but he was dubious about why they were lauding the selection of a player many of them failed to take, as Myers told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports on “The Vertical” podcast (audio link via Twitter at two-minute mark). Green illustrates the importance of the draft, as Myers explains.
“You have to hit the draft right. It’s the easiest way to build a team, so it’s easy to sit here and say how great Draymond Green is for the Golden State Warriors, but that guy was the 35th pick in the draft, and that can change a franchise,” Myers said to Wojnarowski. “Whoever got him in the draft, at that number, at that value, it can change the next 10 years of your franchise.”
Golden State is entrenched in the 30th spot in the 2016 order for now, as our Reverse Standings show, and they owe their 2017 pick without protection to the Jazz, so Myers faces a challenge to continue to find overlooked prospects. Here’s more on the champs:
- Steve Kerr said his absence from games will stretch past New Year’s Day, notes Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter link), but he’s closing in on a return, observes fellow Bay Area News Group scribe Carl Steward. Kerr filled in for interim coach Luke Walton at practice this week when Walton was sick, a reversal of the dynamic that’s gone on all season as Walton guides the team while Kerr recovers from two back surgeries.“I felt pretty good, but I’m not 100% health-wise,” Kerr said, according to Steward. “But I’m getting better and building some strength. I’m going to keep going. I still have symptoms that I’m learning to deal with.”
- Walton is “destined to be a head coach” of his own team someday, Kerr said, as Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle relays.
- Andre Iguodala wants to play three more seasons after his existing contract expires at the end of next season, he said to Kawakami and Marcus Thompson on the Bay Area News Group’s “Warriors Plus/Minus” podcast (audio link). The swingman, who turns 32 next month, stopped short of specifically declaring that he wants to remain with the Warriors, but he said he’s comfortable where he is.
Iguodala was always a pretty solid player but he truly re-energized his career with the Warriors. He made a smart move signing with them and I’ve got to believe they’ll push hard to keep him.