Five first-round draft picks that could worry Warriors in West

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The first day of the 2024 NBA Draft’s new two-day format has passed, and some Western Conference clubs made wise decisions while the Warriors remained spectators.

In a draft with no star-level potential, there are plenty of guys who should succeed at the next level. And a few of them ended up on teams with which the Warriors frequently compete. Conference opponents improved quickly.

For the first time since 2017, the Warriors didn’t have a first-round pick. Unless they trade up, the Warriors will have to wait until Thursday to choose the No. 52 overall pick. General manager Mike Dunleavy and the rest of Golden State’s front office were, of course, focused on what tactics the Warriors’ opponents may carry off.

Here are five first-round picks that the Warriors are likely to take note of, with a few others under consideration.

Reed Sheppard, No. 3, Houston Rockets
The best shooter in the draft is coming to Houston. Sheppard’s remarkable rise has been fueled by his exceptional ability to get hot from deep. Sheppard hit 52.1 percent from behind the 3-point line in his one year at Kentucky, averaging 4.4 attempts per game.

That is a skill that the Rockets sorely need to develop. They hit 35.2 percent on three-pointers last season, ranking 21st in the NBA.

Sheppard also performed admirably at the draft combine, where the 6-foot-2 guard emerged as one of the greatest athletes in the draft class. Ime Udoka and the Rockets want to compete soon. The Rockets do not anticipate to draft this high again in the near future. They ended 41-41 last season and are doing everything they can to accelerate their reconstruction.

Adding Sheppard, whose parents both have strong basketball backgrounds, is a solid start for Houston.

Donovan Clingan, #7 Portland Trail Blazers
Will the Blazers unexpectedly rise in the Western Conference standings next season? It’s doubtful, but the extremely young team is forming a group that could soon pose a problem.

After acquiring Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards in a trade involving the Warriors’ original 2024 first-round pick on Wednesday, the Blazers selected their player in the first round of the draft. They liked Clingan after UConn’s 2023 championship and are said to admire him even more now that the big man has anchored back-to-back titles.

In just two college seasons, the 7-foot-2 center compiled a historic record. Clingan’s defense should translate to the pros immediately. The Blazers might now be shopping Deandre Ayton or Robert Williams, or both, but getting Clingan in is definitely worthwhile for them.

Clingan may have been the safest and most reliable pick in the draft, and the Warriors will now see him four times per season moving forward.

Rob Dillingham, no. 8, Minnesota Timberwolves
Dillingham would have been a lot of fun to watch play alongside Victor Wembanyama in San Antonio. Instead, Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards has a new jogging partner.

The Spurs traded Dillingham, the No. 8 pick, to the Timberwolves for two future picks. Despite being undersized at 6-foot-1 and 164 pounds, Dillingham is a potent offensive weapon who can score in a variety of ways and impresses with his ballhandling. As a freshman at Kentucky, he hit 44.4 percent on three-pointers and 49.5 percent on twos.

Dillingham was selected the SEC’s Sixth Man of the Year due to his ability to score quickly off the bench. Even if it is his best path ahead in the pros, Dillingham may be reminiscent of Lou Williams. The Timberwolves were on the verge of making the NBA Finals and had just added another weapon that opponents could fear.

Devin Carter, Number 13, Sacramento Kings
Mike Brown must be a very pleased head coach right now. Brown began the month with a wage boost that would last him through the 2026-27 season. Nearly four weeks later, general manager Monte McNair introduced Brown to a player who should appeal to the former Warriors assistant.

Carter improved dramatically as a shooter last season, converting 37.7 percent of his 3-pointers on 6.8 tries a game. He made 51 three-pointers in his first two college seasons before going on to make 84 this season at Providence. The 2023-24 Big East Player of the Year is more than just a scorer.

Carter, who stands 6-foot-3 but has a wingspan of 6-foot-9, attacked the glass and averaged 8.7 rebounds per game as a junior. Carter’s first calling card might have been defense, as he demonstrated his competitiveness against superior opposition. Golden State’s developing rivalry up north has just gotten more fascinating with the addition of a win-now rookie to the Kings.

Dalton Knecht, Number 17, Los Angeles Lakers
On ESPN’s broadcast, Jay Bilas dubbed Knecht the “Roy Hobbs of the draft,” equating the new Laker to the lead character in “The Natural” for unexpectedly becoming a first-round pick. And he is not wrong.

Knecht attended Northeastern Junior College for his first two years, then played two seasons at Northern Colorado before transferring to Tennessee for his fifth and final year. The 6-foot-5 wing had no trouble adjusting to the higher level of competition. Knecht, the SEC Player of the Year, averaged 21.7 points and shot 39.7 percent as a consistent three-point shooter.

It’s easy to imagine new Lakers coach JJ Redick using Knecht’s skill set to his advantage right away. Last season, the Warriors allowed the sixth-most 3-point attempts per game, while opponents made 13.3 threes per game against them, ranking ninth in the league.

If Sheppard is the best shooter in the draft, Knecht is a close second.