The Athletic Publishes 4 Category Answers for Connections Sports Edition No. 629

Q: How will the Warriors' draft strategy avoid past mistakes with their crucial No. 11 pick this year?

The Warriors are trying to avoid another James Wiseman- or Jonathan Kuminga-type miss by using the No. 11 pick on a player who can help right away, not a long-term project who needs years of development. That shift reflects a clear lesson from their recent draft history. Golden State’s “two-timeline” approach did not maximize Stephen Curry’s remaining title window, and several recent first-round picks either developed too slowly or failed to become reliable rotation pieces. Team decision-makers have signaled that this pick must produce more immediate value while still carrying long-term upside. In practice, that means prioritizing NBA-ready prospects who fit the current roster and system. The Warriors have focused on wings and frontcourt players who bring defense, shooting, size or passing from day one. Prospects tied to them, including versatile forwards and bigs such as Aday Mara, fit that profile because they address real needs like rim protection, wing depth and floor spacing without requiring extensive seasoning. General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. has also kept flexibility open. If the Warriors do not see the right player at No. 11, they can move the pick up, trade down or use it in a veteran deal. That is another way to avoid repeating past mistakes: not forcing a developmental swing simply because they hold a lottery selection. The core idea is simple: draft for immediate rotation impact and clean roster fit, while preserving enough upside for the post-Curry future.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 14

Puzzle No. 629 was rated 3 out of 5 in difficulty, with The Athletic releasing one clue word for each category before the full solution.
The four hint words were PONCHO, DASH, LOONEY and TUCK, pointing players toward the yellow, green, blue and purple groups.
The full answers were rain-delay items, Houston teams, Warriors first-round picks and terms preceding “rule,” including GROUNDS CREW, ASTROS, CURRY and INFIELD FLY.
Connections: Sports Edition is The Athletic’s daily 16-word sports puzzle, and the next game is scheduled to unlock at midnight in each player’s time zone.