There are less than two weeks left until the 2024 NBA Draft, but the Golden State Warriors won't be taking the field until the second night with the 52nd overall pick in the second round.
Taking Trayce Jackson-Davis with the 57th pick last year redefined what the impact of a late pick can be, and the Warriors will likely again look to a more mature prospect with years of college experience.
The latest hot topic as a potential Golden State pick is 6-foot-7 power forward Enrique Freeman, whose ratings have risen dramatically in recent weeks. After performing well at the combine, the 23-year-old Freeman is currently projected to be the Warriors' 52nd overall pick in Bleacher Report's mock draft, with analyst Jonathan Wasserman calling him a ” “The player who has risen the most in the pre-draft process so far”
For Freeman, the draft selection would be the culmination of a remarkable development after he initially started as a walk-on at Akron after receiving little college interest. He averaged less than two minutes in seven games during his freshman season in 2019-20, but his playing time has increased to 32.4 minutes this year, averaging 18.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 blocks per game.
His offensive production has been impressive this season, shooting 58.4 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, and he was the game's leading scorer at a recent combine scrimmage, according to ESPN's Jeremy Woo.
“Freeman finished with a game-high 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting and made two 3-pointers, showcasing his inside-outside versatility. Freeman hasn't historically been a strong long-range shooter, but he appears to be looking to improve in that area. He has the skill set to create mismatches in the post, which he did well in his past two years at Akron.”
– Jeremy Wu
But while Freeman may have improved his offensive game this season, his real calling card at the NBA level may remain on the other side of the ball. His NBA.com profile states: “Elite defensive traits” Furthermore “He has a Draymond Green and Herbert Jones vibe to him.”
With Green entering the final year of his career, acquiring another versatile, high-level defender could be important for the Warriors going forward, especially if Freeman can continue to hone his offensive game and become a viable threat from the 3-point range.
