Warriors best choice at No. 11 is Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg
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 Photographs
Beginning with Half 1:
Yaxel Lendeborg
Age: 24
Place: Ahead
Peak/weight: 6-9 / 240
Faculty: Michigan
Why he’s a match
The Warriors are searching for a participant who can influence 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 faculty 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 grew to become the primary Wolverine since Juwan Howard to attain 20 factors in three straight NCAA event video games whereas main a nationwide title run.
Earlier than arriving at Michigan, Lendeborg was a two-time American Convention defensive participant of the yr and all-conference honoree at UAB. He examined the draft waters final yr however opted for the switch portal as an alternative, 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 supplied Lendeborg greater than an enormous stage and an enormous payday.
“This yr at Michigan was just about trial and error with every part I did — press conferences, publish video games,” he informed Mavs.com on the draft mix final month. “I’ve realized 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 more likely to be taken within the lottery. He didn’t begin enjoying organized basketball till he was 15 years outdated.
He was reduce from his highschool staff due to poor lecturers and began his faculty 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 provides 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.
