The 2026 NBA draft is one of the biggest in years for the Golden State Warriors. As a result, the Warriors’ general manager, Mike Dunleavy Jr., must get the pick right, not only for the upcoming season but also for their future.
Why It Is Imperative For Warriors To Hit On Lottery Pick
Golden State is coming off its worst season since 2019-20 this past campaign. The Warriors, who finished the season as the oldest team in the Association, went 37-45. They were kept out of the playoffs after falling to the Phoenix Suns in the final Western Conference Play-In game.
While injuries played a huge part in the Warriors’ struggles this past season, they were not good on either end of the floor. The Warriors, known for their offensive prowess since the inception of the Splash Brothers, ranked 18th in offensive efficiency and 17th in defensive efficiency. The Warriors were just an average shooting team and struggled with turnovers, on the glass, and in transition.
Now, the Warriors’ focus is on the upcoming season. The Dubs have nine players under contract for 2026-27 with a salary cap hit of $181.4 million. Thus, putting the Warriors over the $16 million salary cap and around $20 million under the tax. They do have some flexibility with Draymond Green, Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton holding player options.
More problematic for the Warriors is that the average age of the nine players on the ledger is 30.2 years old. The Warriors have four players 36 years or older. The Warriors will also be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for the first few months of the regular season as they recover from their injuries.
What Do The Warriors Need?
Golden State brought back Steve Kerr as coach to finish the job he started: winning another NBA title. But with nearly half of the roster potentially being free agents, the Warriors have a lot of decisions to make. Green is expected to return at a lower cost, though Horford and Melton may not return. The Warriors also have extension decisions on several players this summer.
The Warriors are reportedly targeting a combo guard to play alongside Curry. They also need a reliable two-way big, add depth on the wing, and get younger. Thus, making it essential for the Warriors to hit a home run with their draft picks. The Warriors own the No. 11 pick and the No. 54 selection. It is the first time the Warriors have had a lottery pick since they took Jonathan Kuminga seventh and Moody 14th in 2021.
Having a successful draft doesn’t mean that the Warriors will use their particular selections. The Warriors could trade the 11th pick as part of a package for a star pick or move down in the draft for future draft picks.
However, if the Warriors do keep the lottery pick, they need to select someone who will help immediately. One potential option for the Warriors at No. 11 could be Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg is among a few players who will be in San Francisco today for a workout today, per NBA Insider Mark Medina.
Warriors are hosting pre-draft workouts tomorrow for Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Kylan Boswell (Illinois) and Felix Okpara (Tennessee).
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 10, 2026
How Does Yaxel Lendeborg Fit With the Warriors?
Lendeborg is an ideal fit for the Warriors at No. 11 as he is NBA-ready and a high-IQ positional defender who fits Kerr’s motion offense system. He is coming off a strong season, earning All-American first team honors and helping Michigan to a national title.
Lendeborg projects as a two-way wing with “3-and-D” potential. Lendeborg is at his best when he gets to the rim, whether on straight-line drives, short rolls, or cuts. However, he developed into a reliable 3-point threat at Michigan, connecting on 1.7 threes at 37.2% from beyond the arc.
Lendeborg, who stands at 6-foot-9 and possesses a 7-4 wing span, possesses a high motor and is an outstanding rebounder. While the 23-year-old forward lacks offensive creation, he is an excellent passer. Defensively, he can guard three positions with switchability due to his physicality, length, and athleticism.
Lendeborg is projected to go late in the lottery (No. 11-14). So, he should be available for the Warriors if that is the direction they choose to go.
Who are Kylan Boswell and Felix Okapara?
Kylan Boswell and Felix Okpara are intriguing prospects, but neither is guaranteed to be drafted. Therefore, both players are candidates to earn two-way contracts.
Boswell showed improvement throughout his college career. The 21-year-old point guard started his career at Arizona, but he became more efficient in his two seasons at Illinois. Defense is his calling card, earning All-Big Ten Defensive honors, though he needs to work on his jumper. He averaged 12.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 turnovers with shooting splits of 44.4/30.7/78.1.
Boswell is a potential two-way player for the Warriors due to his defensive upside and ball-handling capabilities. Boswell is a physical point-of-attack defender with quick, active hands. Offensively, the 6-2 guard excels in pick-and-roll situations as he reads the floor well and possesses strong handles. He can also get downhill and draw fouls.
Okpara is a potential late second-round pick, so the 6-11 center could be available for the Warriors at No. 54. Okpara, one of the standouts at the NBA combine, showed improvement through his college tenure, though he is limited offensively. He averaged 8.0 points on 59.7% shooting, 6.3 rebounds (2.8 offensive), and 1.5 blocks as a senior at Tennessee.
Okpara would be a strong fit for the Warriors’ frontcourt, providing rim protection, length, and rebounding. The 22-year-old Nigerian stands at 6-foot-10 with a 7-2 wingspan. He possesses good athleticism and is a smooth mover, which allows him to switch on pick-and-rolls and recover to his man.
Players Who Have Worked Out For The Warriors In 2026
The Warriors have been busy this offseason, working out over 35 players. Dunleavy hasn’t had many draft picks since taking over as general manager in 2023, but he did hit on Quenten Post at No. 52 in 2024.
- Obi Agbim, Baylor
- Drake Allen, Utah State
- Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech
- Chris Bell, Cal
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Maliq Brown, Duke
- Trey Campbell, Northern Iowa
- Corey Camper Jr., Nevada
- Oscar Cluff, Purdue
- Ryan Conwell, Louisville
- Carson Cooper, Michigan State
- Quadir Copeland, NC State
- Tucker DeVries, Indiana
- Malik Dia, Ole Miss
- Josh Dix, Creighton
- Reese Dixon-Waters, San Diego State
- Tre Donaldson, Miami (Fla.)
- Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
- RJ Godfrey, Clemson
- Jaden Henley, Grand Canyon
- Sam Hoiberg, Nebraska*
- Meechie Johnson, South Carolina
- Keba Keita, BYU*
- Kobe Knox, South Carolina
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Robert McCray V, Florida State
- Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s
- Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt
- AK Okereke, Vanderbilt
- Otega Oweh, Kentucky
- Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia
- Jaron Pierre Jr., SMU
- Jevon Porter, Missouri
- Elias Ralph, Pacific
- Kowacie Reeves Jr., Georgia Tech
- Oziyah Sellers, St. John’s
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- Peter Suder, Miami (OH)
- Ernest Udeh Jr., Miami (Fla.)
- Jalen Warley, Gonzaga
- Lamar Wilkerson, Indiana
Keita and Hoiberg have upcoming workouts, according to Cody Taylor of the Rookie Wire. The Warriors reportedly have other potential lottery picks coming in for workouts next week.
Warriors are working out Michigan wing Yaxel Lendeborg tomorrow at Chase Center. Older prospect, bigger wing who is a theoretical plug-and-play option. He is a real option for them at #11. A few other lottery prospects expected in SF next week.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 10, 2026
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
