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Will Richard was drafted by the Golden State Warriors
On Thursday, June 26, the Golden State Warriors struck a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. The deal saw Steve Kerr’s team secure the draft rights to Will Richard, who was entering the NBA fresh off a 36-4 season with the Florida Gators.
During a recent interview with NBC Sports Bay Area, Richard detailed what he can bring to Golden State’s rotation.
“I’m a guy that can do a little bit of everything to help the team win,” Richard said. “Whether that’s spacing the floor, guarding at a high level, rebounding – I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help us win…I see myself fitting in perfectly. They run a great system. A lot of movement, a lot of threes, good cuts and stuff like that. It definitely helps that I ran a system similar, that we’re always moving, definitely using IQ to get the best shot available. I feel like I fit in for them very well.”
Richard, a 6-foot-5 guard, plays a winning brand of basketball. However, as a late second-round pick, he will likely spend next season with the Santa Cruz Warriors. However, if Kerr believes Richard’s skill set can improve his bench rotation, the 56th overall pick could find himself as part of the rotation.
Warriors Still Targeting Al Horford
While Richard will be getting ready for his debut season, the Warriors are reportedly looking to add a true veteran of the league. Al Horford is currently an unrestricted free agent. He’s expected to leave the Boston Celtics this summer. According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, ‘all signs’ continue to point at Horford heading to the Bay Area.
“All signs, for the record, continue to point to Al Horford landing with Golden State … eventually,” The two insiders reported.
The Warriors need depth at the center position. Their lack of size has been an issue for multiple years. Horford would be a strong addition to Kerr’s rotation. He’s a reliable perimeter threat and can guard multiple positions on defense. Pairing him with Draymond Green would give Golden State a much-needed defensive boost.
Horford Could Retire
Golden State isn’t facing much competition for Horford’s services. Outside of the Celtics and potentially the Los Angeles Lakers, they have a clear runway to sign him to a short-term contract.
However, there is still the possibility that Horford decides to call time on his career. The veteran big man is already 39 years old. He recently won an NBA championship. There’s very little he has left to prove in the league. As such, Golden State will likely need to sell Horford on the idea of contending for a second career championship.
If Horford is driven to add another ring to his resume, a one-year deal in the Bay Area could make sense. Yet, if winning is no longer a primary driving force, he could choose to sail off into the sunset of his career and begin the second chapter of his life.
Warriors fans will undoubtedly be hoping they get some clarity on Horford’s decision in the coming weeks. After all, if he chooses to retire or stay in Boston, the Warriors will need to pivot.
Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns for Heavy. He has also written for CelticsBlog, USA Today, Yardbarker and FanSided. Adam has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor
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