Warrior III love!!! And those Yoga Journal articles look excellent.

Personally, I'd tend to suggest Tree as a first balance pose, as it's easier to modify (toe on the ground, foot to the shin, etc.) and requires less muscle power to stabilize. But Warrior III is such a satisfying pose, and integrating it into Surya Namaskar B like that is a wonderful idea.

For anyone else who loves Warrior III, I will rec Ardha Chandrasana as well (Triangle > Ardha Chandrasana > Warrior II is nice).