The Golden State Warriors hit two home runs in the 2023 NBA Draft, selecting Brandin Podziemski 19th overall before trading for the 57th pick which they used on Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Both Podziemski and Jackson-Davis have had an enormously surprising impact on the Warriors, but that’s only emanated from the decisions of rival teams that allowed Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the front office to make those selections in the first place.
Rob Pelinka’s disastrous draft day decision has yielded huge benefits for the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets
While it may be less than a full season since the 2023 Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers have already emerged as arguably the biggest loser from the first-round. The Lakers were armed with the 17th overall pick, two selections ahead of the Warriors.
They would ultimately take Jalen Hood-Schifino, a pick that they’re starting to regret less than nine months later. According to Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily, Lakers’ GM Rob Pelinka overruled his scouting department to make the selection.
“Pelinka, having seen Hood-Schifino play well in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, saw something special and made the final decision.” Hood-Schifino has averaged 5.1 minutes in 21 games this season, having failed to prove a genuine NBA player at this stage. The Lakers’ fateful decision has come to aid the Warriors, along with the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets who combined for the following three picks.
The Heat took Jaime Jaquez Jr. with the 18th selection, with the 23-year-old averaging 12.6 points in nearly 30 minutes per game this season. That gave Golden State the opportunity to take Podziemski who, after a slow start, has taken the starting shooting-guard role from franchise legend and future Hall-of-Famer Klay Thompson.
Hood-Schifino has averaged 5.1 minutes in 21 games this season, having failed to prove a genuine NBA player at this stage. The Lakers’ fateful decision has come to aid the Warriors, along with the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets who combined for the following three picks.
The Heat took Jaime Jaquez Jr. with the 18th selection, with the 23-year-old averaging 12.6 points in nearly 30 minutes per game this season. That gave Golden State the opportunity to take Podziemski who, after a slow start, has taken the starting shooting-guard role from franchise legend and future Hall-of-Famer Klay Thompson.
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