The Golden State Warriors built the foundation of their dynasty through the draft, finding extraordinary value with picks outside the top five, outside the top 10, and, in one instance, outside the first round.
Now Draymond Green, who the Warriors stumbled upon with the 35th pick in 2012, is trying to help the team strike gold again with its No. 28 pick this year.
The three-time All-Star, two-time All-NBAer, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year has been showing up at the Warriors' practice facility during draft workouts, trying to help the front office hone in on an undervalued prospect who could be available late in the first round on Thursday night.
"He's opinionated about everything. He's never not opinionated," Warriors general manager Bob Myers told reporters, including Anthony Slater of The Athletic, on Tuesday. "He's actually, Draymond's a brilliant mind. ... So, when he speaks, me and anybody else, we give him the gravity that his comments deserve.
"Also the fact that he just loves basketball. I mean, what's he doing here? That's the other thing. He's at our draft workout, on a Tuesday. And stays. ... To have a guy like him, who's a three-time champion, care about who we're taking at 28, shows great leadership. I'm sure the players look over there and say, 'That's Draymond Green!'
"He was the 35th pick. It's motivation for those guys."
According to Myers, Green said he might even be inside the Warriors' war room on draft night.
"He can come if he wants to," Myers said. "Having Draymond around always makes everything a little more entertaining. And, look, who am I to say I know more than Draymond Green about basketball? It probably is the other way around."
Warriors assistant GM Larry Harris told Slater that Green has done his research, and he was part of a two-hour front-office meeting on Monday.
"Players know players," Harris said. "He actually knows a lot about these draft picks. You think maybe he just knows Michigan State guys. But he does have a pretty good eye for players and the type of player he thinks fits our culture."
Harris also suggested Green favors players similar to him.
"I know it’s surprising to know that he wants someone who is physical, tough, fighter, guy who will grind it out," Harris said.