Here’s an NBA draft preview for the Golden State Warriors, written by Warriors superfan Anton Miller. Ignoring the currently completed teams and those without drafts picks, about half of the teams still need a representative to preview them. On to the preview…

Previous season record: 42-40

Draft Picks Held: #18, 36, 46

The Warriors enter the off-season on a high note, having made the playoffs for the first time since 1994. Don Nelson, who had coached the team from 1988 to 1994, returned this year to sign a three-year deal. His unique brand of basketball, “Nellie Ball,” took this team to a whole new level. And while he has made noise about retirement from the rigors of the game, in all likelihood he will return for another year.

GM Chris Mullin engineered the league’s biggest trade at the deadline, dealing Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, Ike Diogu and Keith Mcleod for Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington, which helped Nellie. Not only did the Warriors gain cap space, but they shed the underachieving Dunleavy and Murphy and the little used Diogu and Mcleod for two quality players. Both Jackson and Harrington stepped right in, started and excelled. The new additions, along with developing young stars Andris Biedrins, Monta Ellis and healthy Baron Davis and Jason Richardson pushed the Warriors into the playoffs. In one of the biggest upsets in playoff history, the Warriors defeated the #1 seeded Mavericks who had gone to the Finals the previous year.

The Warriors enter the draft with many options. They are over the salary cap and the thinking is that Jason Richardson is the most likely to be dealt, considering moving his large, long-term contract would give some cap flexibility. He could be moved for a draft pick and an expiring contract. Extensions need to be given at some point in the near future to Biedrins, Ellis and Davis and with J-Rich’s contract that will be tough to do.

Adonal Foyle has the third highest pay rate on the team, yet is barely ever used and impossible to trade, so a buyout could occur at some point. The Warriors free agents are Josh Powell, Kelenna Azubuike, Mickael Pietrus and Matt Barnes. Pietrus and Barnes are key role players, and Barnes became a coach’s favorite. They are both expected to test the open market and receive decent amounts of money. The Warriors have made noise about resigning one or both of them and could use their mid level exception to keep one. Azubuike and Powell did not play much, but are both young and can be retained at a small price.

Since it is unlikely that both Pietrus and Barnes will be kept, one need in the draft is a small forward or a shooting guard to fill the gap. Another need that was painfully exposed in their second round defeat to the Utah Jazz is the need for a rebounder. Since these can be found later in the draft (see Udonis Haslem, David Lee and Paul Millsap), the thought is that this will be addressed with one or both of their second round picks. Picking at 18th in the first round, there are a plethora of options. There are few big men options, but the available ones are Jason Smith, Josh McRoberts, and Tiago Splitter.

Since Nellie-Ball does not use big men much and the Warriors big men draft choice last year languished in the D-League, Mullin will be more prone to drafting someone who can contribute right away. None of the aforementioned are very good rebounders and tough players who can bang down low. Their game is more perimeter and offensive oriented for big men and less built on strength. The post game is a bit lacking for all three as well as their respective defensive presences.

The SG/SF options available are Derrick Byars, Nick Young, Thaddeus Young, Rudy Fernandez, Marco Bellini, Rodney Stuckey and Daequan Cook. Fernandez and Bellini are athletic international shooters with highly refined perimeter game. The two Youngs are the most athletic of the bunch and are thought to have the highest potential. If they fall, it would seem likely that the Warriors would snap them up. Stuckey and Cook are scorers who can put points up on the board in bunches and Byars is a very complete prospect who can do everything well.

With the 36th pick, the Warriors could take a swingman like Marcus Williams, Alando Tucker, Morris Almond, Jared Dudley or Demetris Nichols, or instead go for a big man such as Ali Traore, Carl Landry, or Sean Williams — with Williams being the most likely due to his incredible athleticism (although he has had some behavioral issues). The 46th pick is a tossup, and the Warriors will most likely take the best player available at that point.

Warriors GM Chris Mullin went all the way to China to view the prospect Yi Jianlian, a 7-0 with great size and offensive skills. His compares favorably to Yao Ming in mobility, but scouts disagree as to whether his skill set will translate well to the league. Mullin’s visit seemingly does not make sense, since Jianlian will probably not last past the 5th pick. This suggest a trade could be in the works.

The Warriors have quite a few pieces to deal with, and could look to move up in the draft to grab a better prospect or alternatively, trade away their pick along with some players for a superstar such as Kevin Garnett or Pau Gasol. This off-season should be extremely busy for the Warriors as they have multiple avenues they may take to attempt and improve on their past successful season. The Draft is one of the prime opportunities to enhance the team.