The Golden State Warriors fell one win short of solidifying their place as the greatest team in NBA history in 2016. Now they will turn their attention to the future and what it will take to get back on top. The Warriors won’t make their first round pick until No. 29 but they know what they will be looking for by the time that selection rolls around. Here is a look at the biggest NBA Draft team need for each Pacific division team.
Golden State Warriors (73-9)
Biggest Draft Need: Center
Golden State are the cream of the crop in the NBA and the Pacific Division, but they clearly lacked the big man presence it needed once Andrew Bogut was injured. Steve Kerr was forced to rely on two players that couldn’t fill the void he left in the NBA Finals in Festus Ezeli and Anderson Varejao. Neither excels at protecting the rim and that’s what Bogut brought to the team. The Warriors need to be able to rely on a quality big man to come off the bench and play some minutes behind Bogut this year or step in when Bogut gets hurt. If you take a look at his injury history, that’s quite often. They simply can’t afford to have to rely on Ezeli and Varejao in that role. Golden State has one of the most talented and complete rosters in the NBA but they could certainly use another pure center that can provide them with some immediate support off the bench while being groomed as an eventual starter.
Los Angeles Clippers (53-29)
Biggest Draft Need: Power Forward
DeAndre Jordan more than held his own at the center position this past season but far too often he was relied on to do too much at both ends of the floor because of a lack of support. Blake Griffin was injured or suspended for a good portion of the year but even with him in the lineup, the Clippers could use some more help on the boards and defending the paint. Jordan is a solid five but Los Angeles was one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA once again this past year and would certainly benefit from the addition of a talented young power forward.
The Clippers could also get younger on the wings where they have failed to fill the position in recent years. Paul Pierce, Wesley Johnson and others just haven’t fit the bill.
Sacramento Kings (33-49)
Biggest Draft Need: Shooting Guard
The Kings moved up the ranks in the Pacific Division this year but they still have work to do. They have a solid frontcourt rotation with DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay, Willie Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos, but they need some serious help in their backcourt and clearly can’t afford to bank on Rajon Rondo as their long-term answer at the point guard position. Ben McLemore has yet to live up to the hype and it won’t be a surprise if Sacramento targets a potential future franchise guard at this year’s NBA Draft.
Phoenix Suns (23-59)
Biggest Draft Need: Scoring Forward
Phoenix learned what it has in Devin Booker and Alex Len this season, but they’re still in the Pacific Division basement. They do have some solid veteran pieces in place with Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, but the identity of the team is unclear. In order to take another step forward they will need to build around those players and the small forward position is clearly one of need. The Suns need to add pure scorers that can help them stretch the floor with the three-ball and they should have that position identified as an area of need heading in to the NBA Draft.
Los Angeles Lakers (17-65)
Biggest Draft Need: Best Player Available
The Lakers have now are still early enough in the rebuilding process that they should still target the best available player on their board when they make their first round pick. D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle are a couple of quality young pieces that Los Angeles can build around, but there are questions if they even want to do that. Rumors have surfaced that the Lakers are willing to move Russell for a first-round pick. Whether they do or not, they have plenty of needs and they simply have to be committed to selecting the best player available to them when they make their selection.
