Warriors star Kevin Durant has taken time to think about what the 49ers could use in the NFL draft this week. Golden State is coming off a four-game sweep of the Trailblazers in the opening round of the playoffs and won’t start Round 2 until Sunday or Tuesday, depending on how long the Jazz-Clippers series goes.

Kevin Durant watches more college football than I do. Asked him who he'd take with 49ers' #2 pick: He said Ohio State safety Malik Hooker. — Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 26, 2017

We’ve advocated for taking Hooker here, so it’s good to know there’s some star power backing us up.

The 49ers could use a rangy ballhawk at the backend of their new single-high defense. Hooker is a great fit to try and replicate what Earl Thomas does for Seattle.

Related Niners Wire Round 1 mock NFL Draft for all 32 picks

But Hooker comes with question marks. He only started for one season for the Buckeyes and could improve as a tackler. He hasn’t worked out leading up to the draft because he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip and a sports hernia.

The 49ers are trying 2014 first-round pick Jimmie Ward at safety. He’d be switching positions for the second straight season after moving from the slot to boundary cornerback in 2016. He’s also coming off a broken collar bone and might better preserve his health as a cornerback.

Other candidates for the second-overall pick include LSU safety Jamal Adams, Stanford defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, LSU running back Leonard Fournette and Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore.