Why Warriors traded out, then back into their late second-round pick

The Warriors didn’t expect to make a pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after they agreed to send their lone selection — No. 52 overall — to the Oklahoma City Thunder for reserve wing Lindy Waters III.

But serendipitously, the pick changed hands once more, and later became available again. And the way the draft played out, Golden State wanted back in. Some cash considerations later, the Warriors had their own pick back, using it to take Boston College stretch-five Quinten Post.

The transactions turned a busy couple days at the Warriors’ war room in Chase Center into wonky ones.

“We felt like (Waters) versus the 52nd pick, this is a player who we feel can do better than 52,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said in a post-draft press conference.

“At that point, we decided, ‘All right, now we’re out of the second round and thus out of the whole draft. Decided we wanted to get back in because there were some players available that we liked. Lo and behold, 52 was available, and we really liked it again. So we got back in. A bit odd, but there was no original plan to make it all work together, but it eventually did.”

Waters, 26, has been on Golden State’s radar as a “buy low” candidate for quite some time, Dunleavy said. Buried in a deep Oklahoma City roster, Waters is a 3-point specialist whom the Warriors think can expand his game.

Golden State plans to pick up Waters’ $2.2 million club option and expects him to compete for a rotation spot on the wing.

Along with Waters, Post was also a player Golden State identified on its wish list. When his name remained available as No. 52 approached, the Warriors agreed to get back into the 52nd slot.

The 24-year-old Post — the Warriors’ first 7-footer in years — shot over 40% in each of his past two seasons at BC.

“Can shoot the ball, stretch the floor,” Dunleavy said of Post. “He’s got really good size. But more importantly, you want players who can do more than one thing. We think he rebounds, we think he can defend at a level at the rim that’s NBA acceptable. Good passer. So, he fits a lot of things we look for.”

By making that trade, the Warriors are hard capped at the second apron, meaning they aren’t allowed to spend more than the estimated $189.7 million — which they were highly unlikely to broach anyways.

That restriction wouldn’t prevent the Warriors from swinging a trade for an All-Star caliber player like Paul George or Jimmy Butler.

“We’re aware of what (the trade) did,” Dunleavy said. “I think we’re okay with that. To stay under the second apron is plenty of money to spend to build a good team.”

The Warriors could sign Post to a guaranteed contract or a two-way deal, a decision that’s to be determined, per Dunleavy. There are cap benefits to signing second rounders to multi-year, guaranteed contracts but having roster flexibility can also come in handy.

Post and Reece Beekman — an undrafted defensive ace out of Virginia signed to a two-way deal — are expected to play in the Summer League, Dunleavy said. Beekman was the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year in both 2023 and 2024.

Post’s availability could be delayed by a minor leg injury.