Mock Draft Review 4. Scottie Barnes and Chris Duarte. & Open Thread

Intriguing...

This is a series of reviews of published mock drafts. Why do this now, when we don’t even know which pick numbers the Warriors will have?

1. It’s fun.

2. We are not looking for a precise prediction of draft order. This is a good chance to see the range of players that draft experts think GSW should be drafting outside of the Top 5.

3. There is an overwhelmingly vast chance that the Warriors will have at least one pick at #6 or below. There is near complete consensus on who the Top 5 should be (Cade, Mobley, Suggs, Green, Kuminga) and zero consensus on who the #6 pick should be.

Now you might think the Warriors are going to trade the picks to get immediate help for next season. I kind of think this too. However, it’s impossible to evaluate a trade and its opportunity cost without looking at what the draft picks might net you.

So without further ado, this mock draft is from Krysten Peek, Yahoo! Sports on May 24.

#6. Scottie Barnes

• Ht./Wt: 6-9, 227 lbs | Class: Freshman | Florida State: 10.3 points, 4 rpg, 4.1 apg

  Krysten Peek: The Warriors will be in a win-now mode next season with Klay Thompson returning and adding a healthy James Wiseman. Barnes would be a great additional player to this Warriors team and played point-forward during his one year at Florida State. He’s a great defender with his long 6-foot-9 frame, grabbing 36 steals this past season and can be plugged in anywhere on the court. His outside shot will need some work at the next level but Barnes is the best available prospect at No. 6 and could sneak inside the top-five after pre-draft workouts.

Profile from Sports-Reference.com

Wizzy’s Comps. 

• Per 40. Eric Snow, Dejounte Murray, Metta World Peace, Julian Wright, Earl Watson, Trevor Ariza, Keon Johnson, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Zimmerman

• Advanced. Tremont Waters, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Smith Jr., Michael Carter-Williams, Jaden Springer, Kira Lewis Jr., Kris Dunn, Dejounte Murray

NBA Draft Room Comp: Draymond, Magic. Holy mackerel, that is overhyping a bit, yes?

Sam Vecenie, The Athletic: At between 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a strong, powerful frame, Barnes has prototypical size and length for the wing and switchable big position. His lateral agility also is strong, allowing him to be the one prospect in this class who can genuinely switch one through five right now. Florida State often used him at the point of attack on that end, and he has quick, disruptive hands. More than that, he plays with incredible energy and verve. He’s one of the most positive, energy-giving players you’ll evaluate, with a real positive spirit. Offensively, there is some work to do, but he’s a tremendous passer with a high feel for the game, having averaged over four assists per game for Florida State while playing some point guard. He’s more of a four at the NBA level, and he needs to improve the shot. But Barnes has a chance to be an elite role player who makes well over nine figures in terms of salary if he becomes even an average shooter.

Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer: SHADES OF Draymond Green, Pascal Siakam, Taller and Bulkier Michael Carter-Williams

Elite defender with playmaking skills, but needs to improve his jump shot to reach his full potential.

• On-Ball Defense

• Off-Ball Defense

• Hustle

• Rebounding

PLUSES

• Incredible physical profile, with long arms and a huge, bulky frame mixed with quickness. Most importantly, he plays with a relentless defensive mindset. At worst, he’ll be a good defender; at best, he will win defensive accolades throughout his career.

• Florida State used him all over defensively: guarding lead ball handlers, battling on the post against bigs, and playing the back line of the zone as a rim protector. 

• Plays point guard in college. A willing facilitator who pushes the ball ahead with long outlets and makes the extra pass in the half court. 

• Could be a playmaking threat out of dribble handoffs and the short roll. Solid open-floor playmaker who can throw darts across the court to corner 3-point shooters or hit the roller with a lob.

• Takes big, long strides to the rim and barrels through defenders on drives while holding the ball in one hand to extend for layups. A freight train in the open floor who could become a major mismatch problem in the half court if he keeps advancing offensively.

• Active offensive rebounder.

• Competitor. Hustler. Crashes the offensive glass, races up the floor in transition, and sprints back on defense. 

MINUSES

• He’ll need to get even quicker laterally on defense to become a player who can not only contain, but bother elite perimeter scorers.

• Scoring from the perimeter appears foreign for him; he’s an interior-based scorer who lacks the dribbling moves to break down defenders for jumpers and he looks uncomfortable shooting, even from a standstill.

• Shooting mechanics need to change. Looks stiff from the line and the floor. Has solid touch on layups, so there’s some potential if he finds the right shooting instruction.

• Lacks an advanced low-post game.

• If he doesn’t develop as a shot creator, how much will his playmaking matter? Like Lonzo Ball, he might first need a jumper to develop as an effective pick-and-roll playmaker.

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#17. Chris Duarte

(yeah, ignore the wonky pick number)

• Ht./Wt: 6-6, 190 lbs | Class: Senior | Oregon: 17.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg 2.7 apg

Profile from Sports-Reference.com

Wizzy’s Comps. 

• Per 40. Luther Head, Cameron Johnson, Adonis Jordan, Khyri Thomas, Davon Reed, Steve Blake, Jon Diebler, Payton Pritchard, Kirk Hinrich

• Advanced. Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Khyri Thomas, Buddy Hield, Davion Mitchell, Tyrese Haliburton, Marial Shayok, Payton Pritchard, Josh Hart

NBA Draft Room Comp: Klay lite

Sam Vecenie, The Athletic: Some evaluators have docked Duarte for his age, as he’d be the oldest prospect in the first round. But I think his game is so tailor-made for the NBA that he’s not going to have any problem making an immediate impact. He’s an All-Defense member in the Pac-12 and a genuine playmaker with how disruptive his hands are in the backcourt with length at 6-6. And on offense, he’s a legit 40-plus percent 3-point shooter who can also handle the ball and make comfortable decisions. Duarte has high-level role player written all over him.

Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer: SHADES OF Modern Rip Hamilton, Gary Trent Jr., Danny Green

A strong shooter who could stick in the league for a long time, especially if he makes progress as a playmaker and on-ball defender.

• Perimeter Shooting

• Hustle

PLUSES

• Elite spot-up shooter who can score off movement using screens, handoffs, and relocations.

• He's not a dynamic shot creator, but he is a knockdown shooter off the bounce, able to punish defenders for going under screens or pull up and side-step defenders off spot-up situations. 

• Ambidextrous finisher who has the body control to bend and angle himself to score.

• A hustler who goes out of his way to make plays on the ball, and a willing rebounder for his position.

• Active and aware in the passing lanes as an off-ball defender. He makes reads like a defensive back and creates a ton of steals and deflections.

• Good defensive fundamentals. He stays in his stance and plays hard. He needs to improve his lateral movement, but the tools are there.

MINUSES

• Subpar playmaker at this stage of his career. He’s a willing passer but he’s inaccurate, especially off the dribble in pick-and-roll situations.

• Likely not a very switchable defender, as he’s not quick enough to handle speedy guards or big enough for larger, stronger forwards.

• He’ll be 24 by draft night.

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Quick Thoughts

Hmm. Scottie Barnes has fallen a bit in the hype level since he entered college. But he basically seems like Draymond at his no-shot worst and all-defense, all-passing best. I’m thinking shorter Ben Simmons type. I could imagine GSW falling in love with him and bringing him on to be Draymond Jr. But it would be hard for both of them to play at the same time.

Chris Duarte is the kind of mature 3-and-D wing that Dub Nation always craves, and it feels like he could be a decent bench player right away.

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