Steinmetz: The best, and worst Warriors' draft picks
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in 2003, Arenas was named the NBA's Most Improved Player, prompting the Wizards to offer a six-year, $65 million dollar deal that the Warriors couldn't match.
In his rookie season, Spreewell averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 assists, and was an All-Star in 1994, 1995, and 1997.
Mullin made five All-Star games in 12 seasons with the Warriors, averaging a career-high 26.5 points in 1989.
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Fuller played just two seasons for the Warriors, averaging 4 points and just over 3 rebounds per game.
Despite averaging 4.4 points and 5 rebounds per game from 1998-2004, the Warriors signed Foyle to a 6-year, $42 million dollar contract in July 2004.
JUNE 22, 2011
STEINMETZ ARCHIVE
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Matt Steinmetz
CSNBayArea.com
The NBA draft lottery was introduced in 1985. Since then, the Warriors have been involved in plenty of draft lotteries, and wound up with all kinds of varying picks. Here's a look at five of the best picks the Warriors have made since then ... and five of the worst.
BEST
Gilbert Arenas (second round, No. 31 pick overall, 2001): Arenas was part of one of the greatest Warriors' greatest drafts. General manager Garry St. Jean selected Jason Richardson at No. 5, Troy Murphy at No. 14, and then Arenas. Richardson and Murphy turned out to be solid pros, but Arenas was the elite player. Maybe not for the Warriors, but still.
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Monta Ellis (second round, No. 40 pick overall, 2005): When Chris Mullin selected Ellis with the No. 40 pick, virtually nobody had heard of him. He was a little known high school player out of Mississippi. The Warriors benefitted from there being doubts about Ellis' knee, which he had had surgery on in high school. Suffice it to say, the Warriors got incredible value on that pick.
Latrell Sprewell (first round, No. 24 pick overall, 1992): Not too many Warriors' fans were familiar with the name Latrell Sprewell when Don Nelson drafted him out of Alabama back in 1992. He was considered athletic and raw, but Sprewell ended up being a four-time all-star and first-team All-NBA selection in 1993-94.
Chris Mullin (first round, No. 7 pick overall, 1985): The Warriors finished the 1984-85 season at 22-60, tied with Indiana for the worst record in the NBA. They had visions of center Patrick Ewing, but ended up with the No. 7 pick and great disappointment -- until Mullin showed up and proved he was a pretty good player in his own right.
Tim Hardaway (first round, No. 14 pick overall, 1989): Many thought Hardaway was too smallish of a point guard to be selected at No. 14, but few knew how competitive and quick Hardaway was. Hardaway had a run where he was one of the most explosive point guards in the league. He was a member of five All-NBA teams (one first team, three second teams and one third team).
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WORST
Chris Washburn (first round, No. 3 pick overall, 1986): He was supposed to be a franchise-changing center, but injury and drugs derailed Washburn's career. He played only 43 games for the Warriors over two seasons, averaging 3.8 points per game.
Todd Fuller (first round, No. 11 pick overall, 1996): Had fate been kind to Fuller, he would have simply gone down as a big man who didn't make it. But the real problem was a player by the name of Kobe Bryant was selected two spots after Fuller, which -- unfortunately for Fuller -- always linked the two in the Bay Area.
Adonal Foyle (first round, No. 8 pick overall, 1997): The Adonal Foyle pick was a result of franchise disorganization, period. Owner Chris Cohan fired general manager Dave Twardzik three weeks before the draft, and allowed newly hired coach P.J. Carlesimo to run the draft. Carlesimo, a coach at heart, selected Foyle at No. 8. Tracy McGrady went No. 9.
Ike Diogu (first round, No. 9 pick overall, 2005): The Warriors needed a back-to-the-basket player, and Chris Mullin pulled the trigger on Diogu. Even at the NBA level, Diogu could score in the low post, but he struggled in other aspects of the game. In the end, he turned out to be an undersized four who had a limited upside. The fact of the matter, though, is the Diogu blow was softened by the Ellis pick in the second round.
Patrick O'Bryant (first round, No. 9 pick overall, 2006): O'Bryant had opened some eyes late in the 2005-06 season for Bradley, showing a very soft touch around the basket and a skill level that exceeded most other bigs. But, you can't measure heart, as they say, and O'Bryant simply didn't have the inner fire to compete at the NBA level. He's still trying but not getting anywhere.
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Steinmetz: The best, and worst Warriors' draft picks
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always the same problem. W's draft a big man but they never contribute early. Udoh has been the first guy to play quality minutes since Joe Smith i believe, 1995. smh