SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors have brought in players from one coast to the other for workouts as they search for a draft-day steal.
Golden State’s only pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is No. 41 overall, which will be made on Thursday night.
General manager Mike Dunleavy quipped during a news conference on Monday that the team hopes to select the next Nikola Jokic, who was chosen by Denver with the 41st pick in 2014.
Dunleavy then shifted to a more serious tone, noting that depending on finding value from a second-round pick is folly, even for a team that has chosen future Hall of Famer Draymond Green and rotation players such as Quinten Post, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jordan Bell in recent memory in Round 2.
“I think we have to be realistic about what it is, but sure, we’re going to analyze this thing, look at it, and try and find the best player we can find that’ll be able to contribute to this franchise,” Dunleavy said. “That’s the goal.”
Of course, there figures to be talented players at No. 41, including several who have years of collegiate experience.
“We’re trying to grasp how that models out with these older guys,” Dunleavy said. “Now, we’ve had some success with them, but there’s so many of them this year. But it does lend itself to the older guys generally can play sooner than later, and if that’s the way it goes, maybe that happens.”
Here are five potentially ready-to-go players the Warriors have worked out over the past month, and why they could immediately help Golden State:
Sion James, Duke
Bio: 22 years old, 6-5, 220
Breakdown: A strong, physically-imposing force on the perimeter who shot 41.3% from long-range while playing next to presumptive No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg after transferring to Duke from Tulane as a fifth-year senior. James shot in the low-30s from 3-point land before playing at Duke. Has a game somewhat reminiscent of Moses Moody, in that he can guard multiple positions, presumably knock down an open shot and knows how to keep the ball moving within the structure of an offense. He was named to the all-ACC defensive team in his one season at Duke. Though he might not have the most exciting player profile, James is the kind of draft pick who can help the Warriors and could play decent minutes next to the stars.
Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Bio: 22, 6-0, 170
Breakdown: The younger brother of Pacers standout Aaron Nembhard. Unlike his brother, who is a 6-4 swingman, Ryan is an undersized point guard and a floor general. The two-time all-West Coast Conference selection led the nation in assists (9.8) last season. Not surprisingly, he was an elite pick-and-roll ballhandler at the collegiate level and shot 40.4% from long range as a senior. His size makes him a defensive liability and his all-around scoring package is far from elite. But on a team that desperately needs a non-Curry/Butler ballhandler who can make plays, Nembhard is someone who could give the Warriors offense a shot in the arm in short bursts off the bench.
Micah Peavy, Georgetown
Bio: 23, 6-7, 215
Breakdown: Has ideal size as a modern NBA forward and can defend multiple positions. Took on more of a ball-dominant role in his final season at Georgetown and showed a willingness to get to the rim and use his size to finish inside. Not the most explosive athlete, but showed decent shot-making ability by averaging 17 points per game as a senior while making exactly 40 percent of his threes last season. But how much of that shot is real, given that he made no better than 31% of his threes in any previous season at the college level? Shot consistency could make or break his NBA career. Like James, he could have a future as a plug-and-play forward if the shot improvement is more than a mirage.
Johni Broome, Auburn
Bio: 22, 6-10, 240
Breakdown: Probably would have been a slam-dunk lottery pick 20 years ago. Was the SEC player of the year, SEC all-defense, consensus All-American as a senior for an Auburn team that went 32-6. Averaged 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 blocks per game as a devastating interior finisher at the collegiate level. Will that translate to the NBA, though? His athleticism leaves much to be desired – he went viral for having a 24-inch standing vertical leap at the scouting combine – and his 7-foot wingspan is underwhelming. Will he be able to guard NBA athletes on the perimeter? The jumper is still shaky, too. But the Warriors are looking for a center, and Broome is a willing passer who could find a role in Steve Kerr’s dribble-handoff heavy offense.
Amari Williams, Kentucky
Bio: 23, 7-0, 255
Breakdown: Dunleavy said that he wants to find a player capable of playing the five, which in theory would help allow Green to move back to power forward. Well, Williams is a true center in every way. A high-level offensive rebounder despite not being the bounciest athlete. He has a 7-6 wingspan, although he averaged a somewhat underwhelming 1.2 blocks per game last season despite being blessed with incredible size. He is not a freak athlete, which limits his defensive versatility and ability to finish above the rim. While not exactly Victor Wembanyama as a creator, he did average 3.2 assists per game as a skilled passer, something that could help him stay on the floor in matchups against bigger centers that often gave the Warriors fits last season.
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