When Monday night’s contest between the Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves started, the top two picks from the 2020 NBA Draft sat on the bench.
No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards hasn’t started in all 16 of Minnesota’s games this season, while James Wiseman was removed from the starting five for the first time in his young career.
Before the contest, a reporter asked Steve Kerr if the Warriors would have drafted Edwards at No. 2 had Wiseman gone first overall.
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SIGN UP HERE “Anthony was certainly in the mix,” Kerr said. “We worked him out twice. Just an immensely gifted young guy. We had dinner with him one night and then went back to Atlanta and worked him out again. I enjoyed being around him.”
Edwards hasn’t been able to leapfrog Malik Beasley (18.9 points per game) in the T-Wolves’ starting lineup at shooting guard while struggling with his shot this season. The University of Georgia product can be a lights-out shooter, but he posted a 34.7 percent field-goal percentage and 27.2 3-point field-goal percentage entering Monday. He was averaging 12.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per contest.
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Wiseman has flashed plenty of potential throughout the season but his production has tapered off since a hot start. Wiseman averaged 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game entering Monday. Kerr said he sees plenty of parallels between the two high draft picks.
“I think [Edwards has] got a bright future,” Kerr said. “He’s just so talented and raw. Similar to James in there’s not a lot of playing experience, but a ton of potential. I think both guys are going to get a ton better as we watch them grow over the next year or two.”
Once they did get on the court with one another, Edwards delivered a high-flying posterizing dunk against Wiseman.
Edwards might have bragging rights after that slam, but Wiseman certainly fits the Warriors’ short- and long-term plans as a unique center with the chance to be a great one. Golden State should be content with its current batch of wings in Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. while awaiting the return of Klay Thompson.
Edwards could develop into a great scorer, but Wiseman’s size, skill set and potential are much more desirable for the Warriors at this point.
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