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Warriors Predicted to Go International in NBA Draft to Address Key Need

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Svyato Rovenchuk | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 10:17 PM ET

The Golden State Warriors have a few pivotal roster holes that need to be filled before entering into next season. The NBA Draft will provide them with an excellent opportunity to address at least one of those needs.

The Warriors will not have a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. That was handed over to the Miami Heat as a part of the trade that brought Jimmy Butler to the Bay Area.

Their draft fortunes will be heavily tied to what they do with their lone selection at 41st overall. There are certainly a number of avenues for them to explore.

Many have prognoses the Warriors to use pick number 41 to address the backup point guard position. A reliable presence off the bench would certainly help Golden State's offense next season.

However, another standout need for the Warriors is the frontcourt. Running Draymond Green as the starting center moving forward will quickly wear out the aging star.

ESPN's most recent mock draft projected the Warriors to ensure that does not happen. ESPN had Golden State selecting Rocco Zikarsky out of the NBL with the 41st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Zikarsky was once thought of as a potential lottery pick in the early-goings of the draft process for this season. However, an uneventful season, apart from injuries, led to his stock plummeting with the draft date in sight.

Zikarsky played 20 games this past season. The Australian big man averaged 4.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 12.1 minutes per game.

This potential selection would represent a gamble on the upside that was originally thought to be there with the 7-foot-4-inch giant. Not only that, but the Warriors would be counting on the injury problems to not persist.

It would ultimately be a high risk, high reward move for Golden State.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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