NBA announces dates for 2021 draft, critical Warriors lottery

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The Warriors have found out some key dates that will dictate their future.

The NBA announced Monday that the 2021 NBA Draft will be held on July 29 and the draft lottery will be held on June 22. The NBA combine will be held from June 21 through June 27.

The lottery will be especially critical for the Warriors this year, as they hold the Minnesota Timberwolves' top-three protected first-round pick. The Wolves currently own the worst record in the NBA, and thus the pick would only convey to the Warriors if it falls out of the top three.

Due to adjusted lottery odds, that means the Warriors would have about a 60 percent chance of obtaining the pick (about 48 percent No. 5, and 12 percent No. 4, currently). If it falls in the top three, the Warriors would own the Wolves' unprotected pick in 2022.

The Warriors also have their own first-round pick this year (top-20 protected), which could be impacted on lottery night as well, if Golden State winds up out of the playoffs.

Draft prospects such Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green or Jonathan Kuminga could all be in play with the T-Wolves pick, while some mid-tier prospects like Ziaire Williams or Corey Kispert could be the Warriors' option in the middle of the first round, depending on where their selection lands.

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The Warriors, of course, could also trade either pick as part of a package for an NBA veteran who might better fit the timeline of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and a returning Klay Thompson.

General manager Bob Myers and Warriors fans everywhere now can circle their calendars for these two dates, on which it's not hyperbole to suggest that the franchise could be altered for the next decade.

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