Greetings friends, from Golden State of Mind. With the increasing likelihood that the Warriors are going to end up smack in the #8 or #9 spot where we didn't want to be (and smack where you wanted us!), Warriors Nation has taken to postulating how we can get you guys to be nice to us and let us keep our pick. To me it seems like a rather unrealistic request, but I take some solace in a recent comment by Warriors' owner Joe Lacob to the effect of "it's being discussed." There's also this recent diary, which posits a totally unsubstantiated rumor that the deal has been worked out, provided you guys miss out on the playoffs.

Here's how I rationalized the potential interest from your side in such a deal:

For some teams, having two picks in the early-mid first round wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. But on a team that’s already developing four promising kids — Favors, Burks, Hayward, Kanter — I could see how adding two more developmental projects to the mix might not have huge appeal. The only position where another kid isn’t likely to present a developmental logjam is PG, but the way the draft is shaking out now, it looks they can probably snag the best of those (whoever they like best among Wroten, Marshall, Lillard and Teague) with their #12-14 pick.

If I’m the Jazz and the Warriors offer a pile of cash and the chance to take the protection down a bit next season (say, to Top 3), I could see being tempted. Basically, grab a young PG prospect with their pick, sit tight, and root for injuries to Curry and Bogut that might land them a Cody Zeller or Nerlens Noel in ’13.

Rather than rationalize, I thought I'd try to get some answers directly from the horse's mouth. How hot are you guys for the #8 or 9 pick in this year's draft? Do you have any concerns about a potential "logjam" of young, developing players? If you miss out on the playoffs and end up with the #12-14 pick, would any of you be willing to flip the pick for a less protected pick (say Top 3 protected) in next year's draft? If so, what do you think the chances are that the Jazz front office shares your willingness?

Answers to any of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Respect to you guys and your team, who somehow always manage to be respectable at worst, even when in the midst of a complete rebuild. I'm sure the hunger for a championship is as deep (or deeper) over there as it is on GSoM, but you guys should really savor how cool it is to root for a team that has been under .500 twice in the past 27 years. Imagine rooting for a team who was about to miss out on the playoffs for the 17th time in the last 18 years — and cough up its first-rounder in the process!

Anyway, stay golden.

— Sleepy