TITLE: Warriors focus on lottery pick strategy as Blazers lose Mike Schmitz to Mavericks
SLUG: warriors-lottery-pick-blazers-schmitz-moves-to-mavericks
CONTENT:
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors will not know their exact draft position until lottery night, but the front office has one priority: maximize the selection. Assistant general manager Larry Harris said the club is comfortable with the upcoming class no matter where the pick lands.
“With the prep work we’ve done we feel very, very, very good about this draft,” Harris told NBC Sports Bay Area. “(We’re focused on) getting someone that we can add that will be young, exciting, and our fans can get behind.” While the organization would welcome a move up the board, Harris emphasized that the main objective is making the right choice.
Trail Blazers
Portland’s first significant transaction under new owner Tom Dundon was a departure rather than an addition. Assistant GM Mike Schmitz, a key figure in the club’s draft room and player development pipeline, has accepted a position with the Dallas Mavericks. Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report described the exit as a “major loss” for the Blazers.
Schmitz championed selections such as Shaedon Sharpe, expanded the franchise’s international scouting reach, and helped establish Portland’s G League infrastructure. “Today is a celebration,” general manager Joe Cronin said. “We’re very happy for Mike.”
Dallas Mavericks
Schmitz’s arrival signals broader changes in Dallas, although one element appears stable for now. Interim general manager Matt Riccardi is expected to represent the Mavericks in the league’s draft-lottery drawing room, indicating he remains part of the decision-making group as the front-office structure evolves.
Source: Hoops Wire
