The Warriors' Decision To Pass On 4 NBA Stars In Consecutive Drafts Shows Bad Decisions And Costly Mistakes

The Golden State Warriors are widely regarded as one of the most successful dynasties in the modern era. Having drafted the legendary trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, the Warriors went on to win four NBA championships with this core in just eight years (2015-2022).

Although the Warriors were fortunate while drafting their three core players, this isn't to say that the franchise hasn't had its fair share of mistakes. In many ways, the Golden State Warriors have historically made some monumentally poor decisions while attempting to draft talent.

Given their current situation, it is evident that the Dubs have made some mistakes. But when tracing the potential selections they passed up on, their mistakes become more prominent.

With this in mind, we examine how the Warriors passed up on the opportunity to draft four NBA stars in consecutive drafts (2020 and 2021).

The Warriors Missed Out On 4 Franchise Players

In the 2020 NBA Draft, Golden State was in possession of the second-overall pick. Coming off a poor outing in the 2019-20 season, marked by injuries that debilitated the roster, the Warriors had an opportunity to make a resurgence by drafting a generational talent to lead the franchise into the future.

This draft featured several talented players, many of whom have become stars in the league today. In light of this, the Warriors reportedly had a chance to move up the ladder, as the Minnesota Timberwolves were desperately attempting to trade the pick up until the moment they were on the clock to make a decision.

Had the Warriors opted to trade for the first-overall pick, they would have had a chance to select Anthony Edwards, who is widely considered one of the best young players in the game today.

Reports suggest that the Dubs were hesitant to select Edwards due to concerns regarding his drive and enthusiasm for winning. 

Considering the three-time All-Star is coming off consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances and embracing the role of a leader, there is very little that can be said about his desire to win.

Last season, Edwards averaged 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, while shooting 44.7% from the field and emerging as the league's leader in three-pointers made (320). He also earned a spot in the All-NBA second team, while finishing seventh in MVP voting.

While passing up on an opportunity to draft Edwards could be considered a near-miss, since the first pick wasn't theirs, the Dubs continued to make missteps in retrospect.

Reports at the time had suggested that the Warriors were also interested in drafting LaMelo Ball. The talented young guard had shown significant upside as a floor general and scoring threat. In many ways, his playing style would have worked very well in Golden State.

Golden State had supposedly communicated to Ball that they would be selecting him with their pick. Instead, they opted to draft James Wiseman, something franchise owner Joe Lacob claims was a collective decision.

Ball went on to join the Charlotte Hornets, where he thrived and developed into a franchise player. Although he remains injury-prone for the most part, when he is on the court, it is hard to overlook his talent.

Last season, in just 47 appearances, he averaged 25.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, while shooting 40.5% from the field. While he hasn't had much playoff success yet, Ball remains one of the most gifted young players in the league.

While missing out on these two players could be considered costly enough, the Warriors also passed up on another talented young guard in Tyrese Haliburton in 2020.

Haliburton reportedly had a great workout with the Warriors before the draft. His elite playmaking skills and shot-making ability would have made him a tremendous fit on the team. 

While the Dubs were interested in selecting him, something former GM Bob Myers has admitted, they passed up on him. He was eventually selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 12th pick.

Haliburton's time in Sacramento was short, as he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in his sophomore season. However, the move to Indiana has proven to be quite fruitful, as he has transformed the franchise into a playoff contender.

Coming off an inspired playoff run, where he led the Pacers to the NBA Finals, it is evident that Haliburton has become an impact player and one of the best point guards in the league. He averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game last season, while shooting 47.3% from the field and 38.8% from beyond the arc.

Following the events of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Warriors had an opportunity to make amends at the 2021 NBA Draft, where they were in possession of the seventh-overall pick.

While many of the more highly rated players in the class were selected early, Golden State had the opportunity to draft a gifted young German forward in Franz Wagner with their pick.

While there was an inclination to select Wagner, recent reports reveal that Joe Lacob played a major role in pushing for the selection of Jonathan Kuminga instead. As a result, Wagner dropped one spot and was selected by the Orlando Magic.

With the Magic, the German has turned into a star-caliber player. With an average of 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 46.3% shooting overall last season, he is undoubtedly one of the best young players in the game. As a member of Orlando's core unit, Wagner could be vital in helping the Magic mount a title charge in the upcoming season.

All the aforementioned players from the class of 2020 have earned at least one All-Star selection. Meanwhile, Wagner remains on the brink of stardom. 

The State Of The Warriors' Draft Picks

When considering the achievements of the Golden State Warriors' picks from the 2020 and 2021 drafts, it is evident that they pale in comparison to their counterparts.

James Wiseman was projected to be a talented floor-spacing big man. His athletic ability complemented his versatility on offense. Although he was inconsistent defensively, he had the potential to develop into a solid rim protector.

Unfortunately, his career was marred by injuries early on, limiting his growth and his chances of securing a place in the rotation. After missing the entirety of his sophomore season, Wiseman was traded to the Detroit Pistons, where he again showed sparks of potential. As injuries took their toll, however, he found himself out of Detroit, too.

Wiseman is currently on a minimum contract with the Indiana Pacers heading into the 2025-26 season. He has a career average of 9.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on 56.0% shooting from the field.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Kuminga continues to boast significant upside. As a gifted offensive mind with tremendous athletic abilities and physical tools, the Warriors remain keen on cultivating his talents. Last season, he averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 45.4% shooting from the field and 30.4% shooting from beyond the arc. 

Unfortunately, this offseason has been marked by a lot of drama, primarily owed to Kuminga's desire to leave the team in pursuit of a more significant role. As contract negotiations have consumed a major part of Golden State's offseason, the resultant fallout has been detrimental to the Warriors' future.

While Kuminga's future with the team is yet to be decided, sources would suggest that he would return for another season by signing the qualifying offer. Although promising in some way, this would entail that he would leave the team next summer, marking the departure of yet another high draft pick.