The Warriors possess the No. 11 choose on this month’s NBA draft.
Who they choose with their highest choice since 2021 might maintain the playing cards to not solely the ultimate years of Steph Curry’s profession, however the future course of the franchise.
This week, we’re profiling 5 doable prospects GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. might goal.
NBAE through Getty Photos
Beginning with Half 1:
Yaxel Lendeborg
Age: 24
Place: Ahead
Top/weight: 6-9 / 240
College: Michigan
Why he’s a match
The Warriors are on the lookout for a participant who can impression successful from the get-go, and who higher than a consensus All-American from the nationwide champs?
Lendeborg is the prototypical Steve Kerr draft prospect: A four-year school participant, a hard-nosed defender and an offensive connector.
He averaged 14.9 factors, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 blocks after transferring to Michigan, the place he turned the primary Wolverine since Juwan Howard to attain 20 factors in three straight NCAA match video games whereas main a nationwide title run.
Earlier than arriving at Michigan, Lendeborg was a two-time American Convention defensive participant of the 12 months and all-conference honoree at UAB. He examined the draft waters final 12 months however opted for the switch portal as a substitute, telling the Related Press that he turned down a $7-9 million supply from Kentucky for a reported $5 million NIL deal at Michigan.
The expertise offered Lendeborg greater than a giant stage and a giant payday.
“This 12 months at Michigan was just about trial and error with every part I did — press conferences, submit video games,” he informed Mavs.com on the draft mix final month. “I’ve discovered what to say, what I can’t say, actions that I can’t do.”
Merely put: Lendeborg is as polished of a ultimate product the Warriors will discover at No. 11.
Why he’ll final till No. 11
Lendeborg took a circuitous path to changing into the oldest prospect prone to be taken within the lottery. He didn’t begin taking part in organized basketball till he was 15 years previous.
He was minimize from his highschool group due to poor teachers and began his school profession at Arizona Western — a JuCo — earlier than starting his climb up the ranks at UAB.
His age means NBA groups might challenge a decrease ceiling, however Lendeborg may be seen as a late bloomer whose relative inexperience offers him extra room to develop.
NBA comp: OG Anunoby
Lendeborg is barely undersized for an NBA huge man however makes up for it with the biggest wingspan-to-height ratio within the draft class — measuring practically 7-foot-4.
