The Warriors have a major decision to make with the No. 11 pick in next week’s 2026 NBA Draft, and there is no shortage of options for general manager Mike Dunleavy and Co.<\/p>\n
Dunlaevy himself shared a blunt assessment<\/a> of Golden State’s mindset this offseason: “Frankly, we need everything.” Luckily for him and his staff, there are plenty of prospects who could help the Warriors and their long list of needs.<\/p>\n Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski outlined the ideal candidate to join the Warriors as they still chase another championship to maximize the tail end of Steph Curry’s illustrious career.<\/p>\n “I think the obvious answer is someone who’s ready to play or he can play right away,” Podziemski said Thursday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.”<\/a> “Someone that has experience, is physically mature enough to play in the games right away. I think that’s kind of, as an organization, where we’re at. We’re at the stage where we’re trying to win as much as we can.<\/p>\n “So I think with the 11th pick, you just got to look for a guy that’s ready to come in and make the impact right away.”<\/p>\n One prospect that immediately comes to mind that matches the characteristics Podziemski listed is Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.<\/p>\n Lendeborg worked out with the Warriors last week and, while speaking to the media, already envisioned how he could fit<\/a> with the Warriors.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say, like five assists a game maybe to start off,\u201d Lendeborg said after his workout. \u201cA lot of defense, fastbreak opportunities for me. Depending on if I\u2019m here or anywhere else, my role will be a lot different. But if I was here, I\u2019ll be more like a secondary ball-handler. Whenever Steph [Curry] is taken out of the game, I\u2019ll be there to assist, maybe provide a little more offense or instant offense.\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently, the Warriors agree.<\/p>\n ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported, citing team sources, that Lendeborg impressed the Warriors in his pre-draft workout, with one team source stating “the fit is so obvious.”<\/p>\n NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson also listed five best prospect fits for Golden State<\/a>, which also included Lendeborg, and other top prospects such as Baylor wing Cameron Carr and Arizona guard Brayden Burries.<\/p>\n But it’ll be up to Dunleavy to make the right choice with his highest pick yet as Warriors general manager, and as we’ve come to learn, anything can happen.<\/p>\n