Sigh. Ekpe Udoh.
The Warriors miss the Tyrone Hill years so much, they decided to draft the second coming.
Let’s take a look at what a few writers have to say about, quite possibly, the best Warriors draft pick ever.
Tim Kawakami – “But the W’s are not going to take the leap by taking safe, limited-ceiling guys who have already turned into the player that they will always be.
Especially if that limited-ceiling guy plays the SAME POSITION as two other guys, who have higher ceilings, and are YOUNGER than the guy you just took.”
Marcus Thompson – “My opinion is once DeMarcus Cousins went No. 5, this draft was over. It didn’t really matter, because the Warriors needs are greater than what this draft could provide. It was either a trade, or just grab whoever and move on. That’s what the Warriors did, though many don’t believe they grab the best.”
Chad Ford – “I like Ekpe Udoh and so do a lot of NBA scouts and general managers. But taking him at No. 6 seems like a major reach, especially when you consider the Warriors’ current roster.”
Bill Simmons – “Golden State grabs Baylor shot-blocker Ekpe Udoh. It’s going to be fun when Don Nelson plays him for three weeks, Udoh puts up huge rebounding/blocks stats, there’s a fantasy hoops stampede for him and then Nellie inexplicably benches him for the next three months.”
Chris Mannix – “Ekpe Udoh is a 6-foot-10, 240-pound pseudo-center who isn’t especially tough and isn’t especially strong. The Warriors have plenty of those with Anthony Randolph, Brandan Wright and Andris Biedrins on the roster.”
Adi Joseph (NBADraft.net) – “The draft’s biggest riser, Udoh simply is not good enough to be drafted No. 6 overall. He’s awkward and not particularly skilled.”
Tom Ziller (fanhouse.com) – “The Warriors took Ekpe Udoh with the No. 6 pick, which isn’t terribly great value; he could have slipped beyond the No. 12 pick had the Warriors not taken him.”
And for good measure, here’s the analysis of the Warriors draft from 2 years ago, which kind of fits for Udoh pick.
Sam Smith (The Sporting News) – “They went and selected another skinny, talented, project forward whom coach Don Nelson will not play. Anthony Randolph is this year’s Brandan Wright. Throw in Patrick O’Bryant and Golden State likely has the league’s tallest, non-playing bench ever. It paves the way for an Al Harrington deal sooner than later.”
Note to new owner, please give Kevin Pritchard whatever he wants. Warrior fans are sick of these pinhead GMs. Thanks!
