The Golden State Warriors have made their selection in the 2022 NBA draft, selecting Patrick Baldwin Jr. with the No. 28 pick. The Milwaukee Panthers forward was as highly touted a draft prospect as they come a season ago but saw his stock rapidly decline, falling out of the NBA draft lottery entirely.
The Warriors have Patrick Baldwin Jr., atop the draft board at No. 28, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2022
The Warriors taking him at 28th overall feels like a solid gamble for a former top prospect ranked alongside the likes of Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Jabari Smith Jr entering their final collegiate year.
One huge pro as an NBA draft prospect for Patrick Baldwin Jr. is his elite size for his position standing at 6'10” in shoes with a 7'2″ wingspan. He has a smooth-looking shooting stroke that's virtually unguardable given such a high release point.
The numbers didn't reflect that, however, in his lone season in Milwaukee playing under his father as the head coach. Baldwin Jr. averaged 12.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game playing in the mid-major Horizon League. His efficiency numbers were far from ideal, shooting 34.4 percent from the field and 26.6 percent from the three-point line against competition that many expected him to dominate. Even so, the Warriors felt he'd be a great fit after taking him in the NBA Draft.
But there's a reason he was projected right there alongside the consensus top three prospects of the 2022 NBA draft. Perhaps in the right system, he can reach the potential he flashed as an elite prospect in high school. The Warriors are rolling the dice on a solid rookie who could develop into something special.
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