SAN FRANCISCO — The tail end of Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s first draft day as the Warriors’ new general manager ended with a minor move layered into some bigger picture themes about the evolving direction of his roster.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, a prospect the Warriors ranked as a late first-rounder on their final big board, was still available at the 57th pick. The Wizards held the 57th pick. That proved relevant because, earlier in the day, the Warriors agreed to a blockbuster Jordan Poole for Chris Paul swap with Washington. This gave the Warriors a chance to broaden out the deal and accomplish another goal.
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They linked up with the Wizards again, agreed to add Patrick Baldwin Jr. into their outgoing package and in a roundabout way acquired that 57th pick for cash considerations. Then they used it to grab Jackson-Davis, a prospect they coveted, behind-the-scenes manipulating him deeper into the second round and into their grasp, in part, because Dunleavy has a strong relationship with Jackson-Davis’ agent — James Dunleavy, Mike’s brother.
This outcome appealed to both sides because the Warriors plan to give Jackson-Davis a multi-year contract on the main roster, rare for a late second-rounder.
“He’ll be on the regular 15-man,” Dunleavy said. “We’re not overly loaded in the frontcourt (after Kevon) Looney. Hopefully we can get Draymond (Green) back. (Jackson-Davis) is a guy who will provide insurance and hopefully grow with the program.”
There were two reasons for this move, one competitive and one financial. The competitive portion is a prospect-over-prospect bet. The Warriors gave up Baldwin — a tall, smooth, inexperienced shooter with durability concerns — for Davis, another power forward with more power, polish and passing ability. They’re betting Jackson-Davis, three years older, can help more over the next couple seasons than Baldwin could.
But it also saves them somewhere around $10 million in overall tax. Baldwin, as a 2022 first-rounder, is owed a guaranteed $2.3 million this upcoming season. Jackson-Davis, as a second-rounder, is expected to sign the smallest allowable league minimum, barely above $1 million. That difference in salary is significant for the Warriors as they prepare to battle over every penny in Draymond Green contract talks.
To a larger degree, this financial tightrope was also at the heart of the Warriors’ bigger player-for-player swap of the day. The Paul for Poole trade is a massive risk, giving up the player who just turned 24 for someone who recently turned 38. You can read about the specifics here. There’s certainly an internal belief that Paul, if kept healthy in the playoffs, will be an upgrade in April, May and June in this specific team setting, as a table-setter for the youth, an extra veteran voice in the locker room and the traditional low-turnover backup point guard that Steve Kerr always craves.
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But Joe Lacob and the Warriors green lit this move because of the added financial flexibility it opened up. Poole is guaranteed $123 million over the next four seasons. Paul’s expiring $30 million contract is non-guaranteed for the 2024-25 season. That gives the Warriors another big ticket salary to either shed, if it is needed to duck under the punitive second apron, or utilize in a 2024 summer trade. This should also allow an easier pathway to retain Klay Thompson next summer.
“A very successful day for the organization,” Dunleavy said.
Ryan Rollins was also a Thursday casualty. He was added into the package sent Washington’s direction. The Warriors bought into the second round to grab Rollins 44th overall in 2022 and gave up on him within a year, adding his name to a growing list of recent draft cast-offs: Poole, Eric Paschall, Alen Smailagic, James Wiseman, Nico Mannion, Baldwin.
But this is about roster spot flexibility. Dunleavy made mention to that multiple times in his post-draft press conference. The Warriors plan to go hunting for several veteran minimum contributors in free agency next week and want as many “bullets” as they can get. Rollins had a guaranteed spot. They wiped that problem away.
Mike Dunleavy on Warriors entering free agency
* Cleared roster spots for "bullets in free agency"
* Only have minimums. "Looking to add veteran players who can fit into rotation."
* Shooting/two-way ability "a premium"
* "It's obvious we need to add some size" pic.twitter.com/e5kdWIOBWi— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 23, 2023
Because of the noon fireworks, the 19th selection took a bit of a back seat. The Warriors had several options available to them, including Cam Whitmore, who had tumbled from a projected top-five pick to out of the lottery, and Kris Murray, the twin brother of Kings wing Keegan Murray.
But they opted for Brandin Podziemski, the lefty scoring guard out of Santa Clara with deep range, a smooth floater game and a competitive streak that the Warriors have been raving about. He impressed them in a workout on May 31 in the facility and Dunleavy said the Warriors had him either 10th or 11th on their final big board.
Mike Dunleavy said Brandin Podziemski was "eight, nine spots" higher on their draft board than the 19th spot they selected him. Asked specifically about Cam Whitmore: "We had our board and we took the highest guy available." pic.twitter.com/h8yNxhlkWA
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 23, 2023
Podziemski theoretically fills the vacated Rollins roster spot, completing a three-for-three Thursday exchange: Poole, Rollins, Baldwin out and Podziemski, Paul and Jackson-Davis in and plenty of more work to do before the offseason is complete and the reconstructed roster can be judged in its entirety.
(Top photo Trayce Jackson-Davis: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)
