The Golden State Warriors enter one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory with Steve Kerr back at the helm and Stephen Curry widely expected to sign a contract extension. Yet, as NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson and Monte Poole make clear, the franchise’s future direction may hinge on two critical decisions: who they select at No. 11 in the NBA Draft and the free agency status of longtime anchor Draymond Green.
Warriors Eye Wing Depth with No. 11 Pick
The Warriors have long been linked to New Orleans Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III as a potential trade target at the deadline, signaling their desire for versatile, two-way perimeter talent. With that profile in mind, multiple mock drafts now project Golden State using its lottery pick on a player cut from similar cloth.
According to Dalton Johnson, the Warriors are strongly leaning toward selecting a wing with the 11th overall pick. Both Steve Kerr and General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. have repeatedly stressed the need for greater wing depth, especially following injuries to key contributors like Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody.
Johnson, who initially mocked Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg to Golden State, has since shifted his prediction to Baylor star Cameron Carr. He believes Carr offers the ideal blend of immediate impact and long-term upside.
“Going with Carr might be the perfect balance of a player who can help now and projects major future upside,” Johnson wrote.
The 6-foot-7 Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game in his first season at Baylor after transferring from Tennessee. Johnson highlights Carr’s length, silky-smooth jumper, and positional versatility — capable of playing both shooting guard and small forward.
“He can both splash threes as a great movement shooter and swat shots away as a two-way player for years to come,” Johnson added.
Carr Draws Trey Murphy III Comparisons
Yahoo Sports draft analyst Kevin O’Connor also came away impressed with Carr’s performance at the NBA Draft Combine. O’Connor drew direct stylistic parallels between Carr, Trey Murphy III, and veteran scorer Tim Hardaway Jr.
“Carr led Baylor in scoring, shot nearly 40% from 3 on high volume, and looked like a 3-and-D role player who also has blossoming skills off the dribble,” O’Connor wrote. “With NBA genes in his blood, as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it in the NBA.”
While Murphy is regarded as a premier two-way wing and Hardaway as more of an offensive specialist, Carr appears to blend elements of both. O’Connor initially projected him to the Chicago Bulls at No. 15, but Carr’s strong combine showing could push him firmly into the lottery — potentially landing with the Warriors at 11.
The Draymond Green Factor
Beyond the draft, Warriors insider Monte Poole emphasizes that the team’s entire offseason strategy may depend on Draymond Green’s decision.
Green holds a player option for next season and must decide by June 29 whether to exercise it. While sources indicate it is unlikely he will decline the option and enter unrestricted free agency, the possibility remains on the table. Should he opt out, the Warriors would gain significant cap flexibility.
“If Green does not exercise his player option by June 29 and becomes an unrestricted free agent – unlikely, per league sources – he will have made the decision for the only NBA franchise he’s known,” Poole wrote.
Many around the organization expect Green to opt out and sign a new two-year deal that aligns with Kerr’s fresh contract and Curry’s anticipated extension, maintaining the core’s continuity while providing financial flexibility.
The Warriors are also evaluating several other free agents, including Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton, Seth Curry, and potentially Al Horford, deciding which players to retain and which to allow to walk.
An Intriguing Summer Ahead
With a high-upside wing like Cameron Carr potentially available at No. 11 and the Draymond Green situation looming large, the Warriors have a genuine opportunity to reshape their roster for both the present and future. Whether they land a Murphy-like talent in the draft or navigate Green’s free agency successfully, this offseason could determine if Golden State remains a serious contender in the loaded Western Conference.