It became clear early on that the 2019-20 campaign will be a lost season for the Golden State Warriors. Along with Kevin Durant bolting for the Brooklyn Nets and Klay Thompson possibly sitting out the year with a torn ACL, Stephen Curry broke his hand just four games into the season, resulting in a four-month absence. That left Draymond Green as the only healthy star from the lords of the Western Conference.

Off-season acquisition D’Angelo Russell did provide offense but he ultimately struggled to fit in. He was soon traded away to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a future pick.

With lady luck frowning on the Dubs, they compiled a league-worst 15-50 record and became the first team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention this season. That was one day before the NBA announced a league-wide hiatus due to COVID-19.

As they now look forward to reloading the core, there’s a lot to look forward to. Head coach Steve Kerr is still at the helm, Curry, Thompson, and Green still have that championship fight in them, and all of that firepower will be bolstered by Wiggins and a touted pick in the coming draft.

Assuming the Warriors stay put to where they are in the standings, they are guaranteed to pick inside the top four. Let’s take a look at the projected guys in those positions, and see what they bring to the table.

Anthony Edwards – University of Georgia

Player comparison: Donovan Mitchell / Victor Oladipo

6’5, 225 LBS. – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Freshman

Many are labelling Anthony Edwards as the best player in the draft, and rightfully so. He’s an explosive, big-bodied combo guard with great strength and athleticism, which is boosting his scoring ability even further. Such a skillset is an interesting addition to the fast-paced Warriors, and him learning from Steph and Klay’s offensive prowess will be scary.

The 18-year-old Edwards was named the 2020 SEC Rookie of the Year and earned a spot in the All-SEC Second team. He finished the season averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.

LaMelo Ball – Illawara Hawks (NBL)

Player comparison: A more offensively sound Shaun Livingston

6’8, 180 LBS. – Point Guard

The youngest among the Ball brothers, LaMelo has shown flashes that he can be immediately impactful, or at least eclipse what older brother Lonzo did in the 2017-18 season. The upside is definitely intriguing.

Melo is a point guard that can create mismatches thanks to an above average size and length for the position. He can handle the ball well, create off-the-dribble, shoot off-the-catch or dribble, and has been consistently developing his range. When attacking the rim, he’s also able to get to all sorts of angles, including a soft touch on his running hooks and floaters.

It will be interesting to see him fit the Warriors offense, seeing that he can thrive as an added scoring punch and/or facilitator.

Ball was the NBL Rookie of the Year this past season. He led the Hawks in rebounds (7.6), assists (6.8), and steals (1.6) per game, and went second in points (17).

James Wiseman – University of Memphis

Player comparison: Joel Embiid / Chris Bosh

7’1, 235 LBS. – Center – Freshman

James Wiseman is headlining this year’s batch of big men. He’s your classic imposing center that’s intimidating opponents with his force on both sides of the ball.

There’s solid speed, quickness, and agility as he outruns every opposing big man, while his athleticism is excellent for a guy with such built. Those attributes allow him to further highlight his explosiveness, particularly when he’s operating in the paint or the elbow.

Post-up and mid-range game are right on par with a high-upside center. The room for improvement can be easily addressed, especially if he is surrounded with talent like Golden State’s, who are also in desperate need for an upgrade in the position.

Wiseman was suspended early in the season as the NCAA found that his head coach, Penny Hardaway, paid for his family’s expenses when they moved to Memphis. Wiseman’s camp eventually decided to withdraw from the university to prepare for the draft. He played three games, averaging 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and three blocks per game on 76.9% shooting (20-for-26).

Obi Toppin – University of Dayton

Player comparison: Amare Stoudemire / John Collins

6’9, 220 LBS. – Small Forward/Power Forward – Sophomore

Along with having one of the best names in the entire class, Toppin is an interesting story as he is this year’s older prospect that consistently jumped in the draft board. He started the season as a mid to late first-rounder and now he’s an automatic in the top five.

The recognition is well deserved considering he vastly showcased a lot of his skills and potential throughout the season. ‘Explosiveness’ is a big factor when campaigning for NBA teams, and with Wiseman having limited action, Toppin assumed the top spot in that department among incoming PFs and Cs.

Upside might concern scouts as he is turning 22 in a couple of months, but with his two-way style of play, the plethora of strengths may be too intriguing to pass up on.

Toppin plays with aggressiveness and power on both ends. Defensively, he punishes the opponents with active hands and pesky on-ball presence, while on offense, he can bulldoze off-the-dribble or outmanoeuvre in the post. He’s also comfortable in the pick-and-roll.

The other positive, which also makes him an interesting fit with the Warriors, is three-point shooting. He shot 39% from beyond the arc this past season and improved his timing and positioning as the year progressed.

Toppin was the 2020 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. He averaged 20 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on the season.