Warriors trying to get back a first-round pick

By Marcus Thompson II

mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 03/20/2012 1119 AM PDT
Updated: 03/20/2012 1120 AM PDT

The Warriors have been engaged in discussions with Utah that may lead to Golden State keeping its first round pick.

The Warriors' first-rounder will go to the Jazz (via New Jersey) if the Warriors don't land one of the top seven picks. But according to a team source, Golden State general manager Larry Riley has been working for months on recouping that pick.

Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob broke the news when he said during a KNBR interview Tuesday morning: "We think we can get our pick back."

Nothing can happen until the draft lottery takes place, however, and the draft order is nailed down, the source said. But once the draft order is figured out in May, if the Warriors do land outside of the top seven, the source said discussions between the Warriors and Jazz would heat up as Golden State tries to appease Utah enough to get back their first-rounder.

The Warriors would not give up one of their core players to the Jazz in exchange for the pick. The likelihood is the Warriors would offer a package highlighted by their three picks -- the first-round pick they got from San Antonio in the Stephen Jackson trade and the two second-round picks they own. The prospect of adding free agent PF J.J. Hickson, if he pans out, would diminish the Warriors' need to use all those picks.