The Warriors were handed the 11th overall pick in June's NBA Draft after Sunday's lottery, missing out on a move up despite carrying a 9.4% chance to reach the top four and a 2.0% chance at No. 1.
Golden State had a 77.6% chance of landing at 11th and a 13.0% chance of sliding back, so the result was the most likely outcome, but not the one that usually changes an offseason. The Washington Wizards won the top overall pick, with the Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets all tied at 14.0% entering the drawing.
The pick matters because it gives the Warriors another asset in a draft that is still months away, with June 23-24 set for Brooklyn. Golden State last held No. 11 in 2011, when it drafted Klay Thompson, a reminder that one slot can change a franchise's path.
This time, the pick may not stay in Golden State for long. The Warriors are expected to field trade offers as they shape their offseason plans, a sign that the selection is as much a bargaining chip as a chance to add a young player.
For now, the clean result is that the Warriors did not climb, the Wizards did, and the rest of the league now has a little more time to debate whether the No. 11 pick becomes a player, a package or something bigger before the draft reaches Brooklyn.
