The Warriors remain adamant that their goal is to win games, but even they admit that the work taking place in their scouting department is just as important as what’s unfolding on the court.

Nearly halfway through the season, Golden State owns the NBA’s second-worst record at 9-27. A strong pick early in June’s draft would extend its championship window and buoy its chances of contending for a title next season.

With more than five months until the draft, the Warriors have evaluated enough prospects to have an early idea of what could make sense for them. Below are six players widely considered to have a shot at going in the top five. If the Warriors finish the season with the league’s second-worst record, they’ll land no worse than the No. 6 pick in the draft.

Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia, 18

Why Warriors would take him: If Golden State got the top pick, it would have to consider Edwards because his 6-foot-9 wingspan, strong build and high-level athleticism give him as good of a chance to become a franchise-caliber player as anyone in this draft. One scout recently told The Chronicle that Edwards “reminds me a lot of Russell Westbrook. He’s got a great confidence about him, and he’s physically elite for his age. Phenomenal at getting to the rim in traffic.” Edwards would join a crowded Warriors backcourt, but that might not be such a bad thing. He’d have at least a couple of years to learn behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson before being asked to become a go-to option.

Why Warriors would pass: Edwards has a lot of upside, but he’s not as surefire of a prospect as many past No. 1 picks. He settles for far too many jumpers and is shooting 31.3% from 3-point range. If Edwards were to thrive in the Warriors’ motion offense, he’d need to learn how to use constant movement to set up shots. Some scouts worry that his game doesn’t always translate to winning basketball. Edwards’ high school team wasn’t great, and Georgia is unranked. He often oscillates between being in attack mode and fading into the background entirely.

LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks, 18

Why Warriors would take him: Ball has cemented himself as a bona fide top-three prospect with uncommon size for a point guard, crafty ball handling and elite court vision. Though he is flawed, he hasn’t looked out of place as an 18-year-old going against high-level professional competition in Australia’s National Basketball League. On his best days, Ball appears to be the type of free-wheeling guard around whom an NBA team could build an offense. His ability to create for himself and others is unrivaled in this draft class. Ball probably will need a year or two to acclimate to the next level, but his upside is enticing — especially in a year with little clarity at the top of the lottery.

Why Warriors would pass: Scouts worry that Ball’s average athleticism will prevent him from getting easy buckets in the paint in the NBA. In the NBL, he has shown questionable shot selection, sometimes bypassing wide-open teammates to pull up from deep. In 12 games with Illawarra, Ball has shot 37.7% from the field (25% from 3-point range). His recent foot injury could prompt him to shut down his season — perhaps a prudent move in terms of his stock, but he wouldn’t have another chance before pre-draft workouts to quell concerns about his jumper. There is also trepidation about his father, LaVar, whose sound bites caused issues for LaMelo’s older brother, Lonzo, with the Lakers. Just two years ago, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called LaVar “the Kardashian of the NBA.”

James Wiseman, C, Memphis, 18

Why Warriors would take him: In what figures to be a guard-heavy lottery, Wiseman fills a positional need: The DeMarcus Cousins experiment aside, Golden State hasn’t had a highly skilled center since Joe Barry Carroll in the 1980s. Wiseman’s size and shot-blocking instincts should allow him to immediately affect NBA games defensively. Though his shot remains a work in progress, he has enough athletic ability to be a daunting low-post matchup. The hype surrounding Wiseman has dissipated a bit since he went all four years of his high school career as the top-rated recruit in his class. But if the Warriors want someone they can plug into the starting lineup next season, Wiseman might be their best option.

Why Warriors would pass: Scouts understand Wiseman’s decision to skip the rest of his freshman season at Memphis, but they would have liked to get more game video of him. The big question about Wiseman is whether he has the competitive makeup expected from a top pick. Like many dominant big men, he often coasted against inferior competition in high school. One scout told The Chronicle, “He has a lot of the physical tools you’re looking for, but I wonder if he has that X-factor it takes to be truly great. Is he going to put in the work? Right now, I’m not sold.”

Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton, 21

Why Warriors would take him: Toppin is the fastest-rising prospect in this draft. Two months after being projected toward the end of the first round, he is surfacing in the top five on mock drafts. In a pool low on ready-made contributors, Toppin is a versatile forward who, after two years in Dayton’s pro-style offense, could help an NBA team immediately. His strong frame, mastery of off-ball principles and catch-and-shoot abilities have made him the most dominant inside-out big man in college basketball. In 14 games this season, Toppin is averaging 19.8 points on 62.7% shooting (36.8% from 3-point range), 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Those numbers are quite intriguing to a Warriors team that prizes efficiency. At least twice in the past two months, Golden State scouts have stopped by Dayton practices to evaluate Toppin.

Why Warriors would pass: Toppin is an enticing offensive prospect, but some scouts fear that he’s too small (6-9, 220 pounds) to defend centers and too slow to guard forwards. That might not be a big concern for the Warriors, however, who have helped usher in the NBA’s position-less movement. Perhaps the biggest knock on Toppin is his age. After attending a year of prep school and redshirting his first season at Dayton for academic reasons, he is a sophomore who turns 22 in March. Few scouts doubt that Toppin will have a long NBA career, but does he have the upside that top-five picks warrant?

Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina, 19

Why Warriors would take him: Anthony probably won’t go in the top three, but he’d be a worthwhile option if the Warriors fall to fourth or later. His competitiveness and perimeter shot-making skills give him a chance to become a franchise difference-maker. The son of former NBA guard Greg Anthony, Cole has a feel for the game that belies his youth. Though he hasn’t been particularly efficient in a high-usage role for North Carolina this season, he could excel with the spacing that Curry and Thompson provide.

Why Warriors would pass: Anthony should be able to slide into an NBA rotation next season and put up points, but he must round out his game to become anything more than a scorer at the next level. He needs to prove that he can make the reads required of an NBA point guard. Though a willing defender, Anthony’s lack of size raises questions about his ability to guard multiple positions. There are also concerns about his ability to protect the ball. In 32.7 minutes per game with North Carolina this season, Anthony is averaging nearly as many turnovers (3.8) as assists (4.2).

Jaden McDaniels, PF, Washington, 19

Why Warriors would take him: McDaniels has benefited from the general unrest throughout the lottery, vaulting himself into the top-five discussion. Scouts believe that, as long as he continues to add muscle, his perimeter-oriented style should fit well in the NBA. McDaniels is shooting 37.3% from 3-point range, quite the clip for someone with a 6-11½-inch wingspan. But his greatest value comes on the defensive end, where he can use his size and quickness to shut down driving lanes and get deflections. McDaniels, at his best, is the ideal modern big man: a power forward who can guard multiple positions, knock down open 3-pointers and provide high-level energy.

Why Warriors would pass: McDaniels’ success at the next level will depend on his ability to add weight. At 6-9, 200 pounds, he struggles with contact and likely would be forced off the block against some of the league’s top power forwards. McDaniels’ upside is tantalizing, but he will need a couple of years to tap into his potential. That might not align with the timetable of a Warriors team trying to win one or two more titles before Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green reach the back end of their careers.

Bottom line

As The Chronicle reported last week, league sources have indicated that the Warriors aren’t infatuated with any of the three players — Edwards, Ball or Wiseman — being mentioned at No. 1. If the draft were tomorrow and Golden State got the top pick, it strongly would consider trading it — either in a package for an All-Star-caliber player or to move down in the lottery. Toppin would be a strong possibility for the Warriors under that latter scenario. But with the draft nearly a half-year away, plenty can change.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron