All About the West

About.com dropped a list of Western Conference team needs as part of their coverage of the 2005 NBA Draft.

Golden State Warriors
2005 Picks: No. 9 | No. 40
Recent No. 1s ...
Andris Biedrins, No. 11 in 2004
Mickael Pietrus, No. 11 in 2003
Mike Dunleavy, No. 3 in 2002
Grade: B-
Philosophy: The Warriors have been an irrelevant organization for over a decade, but they now appear on the cusp of legitimacy thanks to a recent draft strategy to target guys with the potential to be franchise players. Ironically, they acquired their first "face" of the franchise via trade by getting Baron Davis at this past trade deadline without giving up any of their past five No. 1 picks. That gang of five and Davis really gelled, going 18-10 after the trade.
Needs: So what will put Golden St. over the top? A beast in the post. Troy Murphy is a nice player, Biedrins will only get better and Adonal Foyle is really tall, but a dependable low-post scoring threat will really make the Warriors go places if they're intent on competing now.

Target at No. 9: Sean May ... This is admittedly a little high for May, and the Warriors may be thinking long-term and thus, more of Fran Vazquez and not of May. But May offers the surest bet at this spot to come in, throw his weight around and give the team a needed scoring threat inside to balance out their arsenal of perimeter scorers.

Will Settle For: Ike Diogu

Round 2 Possibilities: Ryan Gomes, Nate Robinson, Juan Mendez, Jason Maxiell, Ronny Turiaf