The 2026 NBA Draft is in a few hours, and for the first time since 2021 (when they used the No. 7 pick on Jonathan Kuminga and the No. 14 pick on Moses Moody), the Golden State Warriors have a lottery pick. The Dubs hold the No. 7 overall pick, and if you want reason for optimism, well … I’ve got you covered! I recently covered the recent history of the No. 11 pick, and it includes some fantastic names, including two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Warriors franchise legend Klay Thompson.
Golden State will have plenty of names to intriguing names to choose from (our Ricko Mendoza covered the players being mocked to the Dubs here), and I’m here to tell them to keep it simple: draft Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
As Ricko pointed out, Brayden Burries — a common name mocked to the Warriors — would be an incredibly intriguing fit, thanks to his size, physicality, and combination of defense and slick shooting. Should he make it to the Warriors (many mocks have him drafted in the top 10), you wouldn’t be able to blame Mike Dunleavy Jr. for taking a swing. There are far worse approaches to take than grabbing a highly-ranked player who falls.
But Lendeborg, who seems extremely likely to be available at No. 11, just makes too much sense. As a five-year senior who will turn 24 before Opening Night, he is arguably the most NBA-ready player in the entire draft. Given Golden State’s open desire to compete this year behind Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and (half a season of) Jimmy Butler III, that NBA readiness makes all the sense in the world … it’s the same reason that most mock drafts have the Oklahoma City Thunder scooping up Lendeborg at No. 12 should the Warriors pass on him.
And yet, the versatile forward is more than just a high-floor, NBA-ready player. He’s a genuine prospect, with a heigh ceiling and some untapped potential. My colleague Ricky O’Donnell, who mocked Lendeborg to the Thunder, ranks him as the No. 5 prospect in the draft, while noting that he has the skills and athleticism to play on the perimeter, despite having a 7’3.25 wingspan and the weight of a center.
Lendeborg blossomed this season, his lone year at Michigan, which resulted in both a championship and consensus first-team All-American honors. That trajectory would certainly suggest there’s a lot more left in the tank, and the Warriors can dream of Lendeborg being not just a contributor to a playoff run this year, but an All-Star to build around further down the road.
Beyond that, Lendeborg simply has the skillset that matches a team coached by Steve Kerr. He’s a big who can shoot well from deep. He makes quick reads and operates with decisiveness. He’s gifted defensively, and can guard everyone from shooting guards to centers. He’s aggressive and invites contact, something the team sorely lacks. He has the mindset to lead a unit and take over, and the selflessness to fit into a smaller, more thankless role.
Should Burries — or better yet, an even more highly-touted prospect — fall to the Dubs at No. 11, then they’ll have a decision to make. But there’s no need to overcomplicate this one. Sometimes players just make sense. And Lendeborg to the Warriors just makes sense.
