Warriors select Harrison Barnes seventh overall in 2012 NBA Draft

OAKLAND -- The Warriors said all along that if North Carolina small forward Harrison Barnes was there at No. 7, they would be comfortable selecting him.Well, Barnes was there at No. 7, and now Barnes is a Warrior.Were thrilled, we love this player, Warriors general manager Bob Myers said in a brief post-pick statement on Thursday. The owner (Joe Lacob) and I saw him in New York earlier this week. Hes one of the best people in this draft and we think one of the best players.Connecticut center Andre Drummond was on the board when the Warriors selected. Myers and Lacob had flown back to New York on Sunday night to view separate workouts of Barnes and Drummond.But clearlyafter passing on Drummondit was clear he hadnt done enough in that workout to convince the Warriors to take a chance. Drummond went No. 9 to Detroit.The Warriors no doubt will expect Barnes to contribute right away. He may not be the teams starting small forward on opening night, but conventional wisdom is that hell likely be the starterand sooner rather than later.The Warriors have Richard Jefferson and Dorell Wright under contract, but Jefferson is winding down his career and Wright is on the final year of his deal.The Warriors also had interest in Syracuse combo guard Dion Waiters, and weeks ago it seemed as if Waiters would be there at No. 7. But Waiters started climbing in mock drafts a week or so ago, and he didnt stop climbing until the Cleveland Cavaliers picked him at No. 4.The Warriors dream scenario vanished early on Thursday, when the Charlotte Bobcats selected Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with the No. 2 pick. Kidd-Gilchrist was a player the Warriors coveted, although they knew getting him would be a longshot.There was talk that Kidd-Gilchrist could possibly slip as far as Sacramento at No. 5. Had that happened, the Warriors likely would have tried to make something happen with the Kings to trade picks.But when Kidd-Gilchrists name was called at No. 2, it became apparent that the Bobcats were selecting Kidd-Gilchrist to keep him.