Will Richard, the shocking steal of the 2025 draft, landed in Golden State thanks to a draft pick that changed hands multiple times in the massive seven-team Kevin Durant trade.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors may not have gotten Kevin Durant back, but the superstar’s seismic offseason trade has yielded them an unexpected and immediate dividend: rookie sensation Will Richard.
Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant
In a fascinating twist of fate, the Warriors were able to select Richard with the 56th overall pick only because they had previously acquired the 59th pick from the Houston Rockets—a pick that was on the move as part of the unprecedented seven-team deal that sent Durant from Phoenix to Houston. The Warriors then packaged that 59th pick with a future second-rounder to move up and secure their target.
A Diamond in the Rough Shining Bright
What seemed like a minor draft-night maneuver has quickly become a franchise-altering heist. Richard, a 6’5″ wing whom The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie ranked 78th in his class, has been nothing short of a revelation.
Through his first 12 games, the 22-year-old is averaging 9.4 points, 1.1 steals, and shooting a scorching 58.3% from the field and 44.1% from three-point range in just 18.1 minutes per game. The advanced metrics are even more telling: he ranks second on the team in win shares per 48 minutes and third in Value Over Replacement Player (VORP), proving his impact transcends the basic box score.
Most impressively, he has earned the ultimate currency for a rookie: the trust of head coach Steve Kerr, who has already inserted him into the regular rotation and handed him two starts.
The KD Connection: An Unlikely Path to the Bay
The circuitous route that brought Richard to the Warriors is a story in itself. When Kevin Durant decided he wanted out of Phoenix, it triggered a historic, multi-team trade. The Houston Rockets, as the ultimate destination for Durant, sent a package of future assets to the Suns, which included the 59th pick in the 2025 draft. The Suns then rerouted that pick to the Warriors in a separate deal, setting the stage for Golden State’s draft-night move.
In essence, the dominoes that fell from Durant’s trade request ultimately delivered the pick that became Will Richard to the Warriors’ doorstep.
A Silver Lining and a Bright Future
While Warriors fans may still dream of a Durant reunion, the emergence of Will Richard is the next best thing. He embodies the prototype of the perfect role player for a contending team: a high-IQ, three-and-D wing who is fully bought into his role, takes smart shots, and defends with tenacity.
His shooting percentages will inevitably regress, but his immediate fit and production suggest this is no fluke. The Warriors’ front office has seemingly unearthed another late-second-round gem, and they have the aftershocks of a Kevin Durant trade—a deal that once brought them championships—to thank for helping them secure a promising piece for their future.