Just Draft

Just BBall's 5th NBA mock draft has the Warriors selecting PF/ C Fran Vazquez.

At 22 years of age, Vazquez is one of the few NBA-ready European talents. For his position, he’s a very fast and explosive player. Blessed with a large wingspan and a 6-10 body, he is also a great defensive player and a shot-blocking threat. Vazquez might be too weak to play Center, but that is where it seems he is most comfortable, which might present problems for whichever team drafts him. He is also very raw offensively with a limited amount of moves in the post. Although one of the older prospects in the draft, Vazquez could still improve greatly though, because he has a good head on his shoulders. He is a hardworking kid with a great basketball IQ that could be a great player someday.

The Warriors are a deep, talented team that will have a chance to make the playoffs this year. They are set at just about every position, but they could always use another athletic, defensive-minded big man, which is exactly what Vazquez is. He’s also a good fit because the Warriors need a player who can come in and instantly contribute. The last thing they need is a “project” on the bench. Yet they also need someone who will be a good player in the long run, because it seems like the Warriors are poised to make more than a few playoff runs in the future and may not get another lottery pick for a while. Vazquez is one of the few players still available in the draft who can satisfy their need for a productive player in the present who still has room to improve over time. It has been suggested that they guaranteed Channing Frye a pick, and Chris Taft is supposedly getting interest from the Warriors, but if a player like Fran Vazquez is still available at #9, it’d be hard for them to pass him up.