The Warriors trotted out a starting five of three rookies in Ky Bowman, Jordan Poole and Eric Paschall, along with Glenn Robinson III and Willie Cauley-Stein in Saturday's 93-87 loss to the Hornets. After six games this season, the focus has turned to the future for Golden State.
While owner Joe Lacob refuses to use the word "tanking," despite Steph Curry being out for at least the next three months with a broken hand, the front office has to have their eyes on the 2020 NBA Draft. The Dubs traded their 2020 first-round pick with Brooklyn in their D'Angelo Russell-Kevin Durant sign-and-trade, but it's top-20 protected. With Curry out for the foreseeable future, Klay Thompson likely rehabbing his torn ACL the entire season and Draymond Green on a games and minutes restriction, it's safe to assume Golden State's draft pick will land in the top 20.
When healthy, the Warriors still will be one of the most feared teams in the NBA next season. Adding a talented prospect in the draft can only expedite their rise back to the top. As the college basketball season tips off this week, it's officially mock draft season.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony released his latest 2020 NBA mock draft on Monday morning, and has the Warriors taking University of Florida freshman guard/small forward Scottie Lewis. The ultra-athletic wing brings plenty of what the Warriors need now and in the future.
Lewis, 19, was a five-star recruit who ESPN ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the country and No. 1 in New Jersey. He's a 6-foot-5, 185 pound wing who can play shooting guard and small forward.
And he has some serious bounce.
Lewis was a McDonald's All-American and scored 10 points in the East's 115-100 win over the West in March. He earned the game's Sportsmanship Award and was the runner-up at the Jam Fest.
At Ranney High School, Lewis was a three-year varsity player and scored 1,874 career points. Lewis averaged 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as a senior.
Golden State Warriors
[RELATED: Paschall growing up fast because of all of Warriors' injuries]
Lewis played 26 minutes off the bench in Florida's exhibition against Lynn University. The freshman scored five points, blocked three shots and grabbed five rebounds in an 89-71 win. The Gators open their season Tuesday against North Florida before facing Florida State on Sunday.
While the Warriors look to turn around a disastrous start to their first season at Chase Center, Lewis is one of a handful of players Dubs fans need to know.