[h1]Drummond, Barnes work out for Warriors' brass[/h1] June 26, 2012, 11:40 am
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Catch the Warriors Draft Preview show Wednesday, June 27 at 4 & 7:30pm and again on Thursday, June 28 at 3:30pm, only on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area!
Late last week, Warriorsgeneral manager Bob Myers told the media he’d have no problem drafting a playerthat he had not seen in an individual or small group workout. He was probablytelling the truth, too.
But given a choice, it’sclear Myers would rather see a guy than not.
According to multiple leaguesources, Myers and owner Joe Lacob traveled to New York on Monday to watchseparate workouts of Connecticut center Andre Drummond and North Carolina smallforward Harrison Barnes.
Over the past month, theWarriors have held approximately a dozen workouts, involving more than 60players, at their downtown Oakland practice facility. But Drummond and Barnesnever made it there.
That Lacob and Myers took a lateSunday red-eye flight across the country to watch Drummond and Barnes work outthe following day would seem to suggest that one or both of those players couldbe available when the Warriors select at No. 7 in Thursday’s NBAdraft.
Myers declined comment when reached at his Oakland office late Tuesday morning.
There are indications thatDrummond, who is intriguing but also young and raw, could be slipping into theWarriors’ range. Ditto for Barnes, although it seems less likely that theWarriors would get a crack at him.
Of course, it’s also possiblethat neither will be available at No. 7. Obviously, Myers and Lacob figure it’sbetter to be safe than sorry.
Drummond is considered ahead-scratcher for some. He’s got terrific size and strength, but not muchbasketball skill at this point. He showed enough in one year at Connecticut toput him near the top of the draft, but he’s not someone who is likely tocontribute immediately. He’s far more of a project than a finished product.
Drummond is 6-foot-10,270-pounds, and he’s got an upside, as they say.
He’s also got a lot ofquestions. Of course he does. He’s not yet 19 years old and doesn’t have muchof a body of work behind him. He played one year at Connecticut – 34 total games– and averaged 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 28 minutes pergame.
Drummond has natural size andathletic ability, can run the floor and has excellent timing. But there arealso concerns about his “motor
