Chris Mullin may gamble on player who could be star for Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. — It's not quite to the point where the Golden State Warriors feel the need to pad the walls of conference rooms at their team headquarters to ensure the employees' safety, but executive vice president Chris Mullin knows what to expect when his fellow executives, scouts and coaches meet over the next few days to firm up which players Golden State should target in Thursday's draft.

Assuming the Warriors do not make a trade akin to their unexpected deal a year ago — sending guard Jason Richardson to Charlotte for the rights to No. 8 selection Brandan Wright — they will hold the Nos. 14 and 49 selections. And before using each of those picks, Mullin will have to weigh the arguments from two differing factions among his aides.

On one side will be supporters of taking an established college player, someone in the mold of junior Kansas small forward Brandon Rush, senior Western Kentucky shooting guard Courtney Lee, or senior Rider power forward Jason Thompson. But whispering in the other ear will be folks who want to see the Warriors gamble on a younger player with a seemingly higher upside, such as Alexis Ajinca of France or Texas A&M freshman DeAndre Jordan.

"It's going to be talked about a lot between now and Thursday," Mullin said. "Therein lies all those meetings: some mild-mannered, some very opinionated. And I'll be listening diligently. I'm open to hearing everyone."

Mullin is not necessarily going to serve as an even-handed arbiter in those discussions. The man who has selected Andris Biedrins, Ike Diogu, Patrick O'Bryant and Marco Belinelli in the first round since becoming Golden State's executive vice president in 2004 acknowledged a few days ago that all things being equal, he prefers the prospect with the highest ceiling, even if there's a larger chance of him being a bust.

"Philosophically, in my gut, I like to pick guys that have potential to go on and (be a) star, if that's available," Mullin said. "That's not always available. At the risk of passing on a guy that's (solid but unspectacular), I would lean the other way, most times. All the time? No. Most times? Yes."

If things hold according to form, there will be plenty of big men long on potential but short on polish when the Warriors' name comes up Thursday night. Some possibilities: freshmen Anthony Randolph of LSU and Kosta Koufos of Ohio State, and sophomores Marreese Speights of Florida and JaVale McGee of Nevada.

Because there is, at least in the minds of some independent draft watchers, a drop in quality between the 12th- and 13th-best players in this year's draft, the Warriors could drop down via trade, pick up something of use, and still get someone from that same clutch of big men.

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