How Can Golden State Ace the 2026 NBA Draft?
In just a few days, Golden State will pick 11th and 54th in the NBA Draft. I’ve already discussed the possibility of moving out of the spot the Warriors are currently in, so this article will cover a slightly different approach. Despite some rumors of switching positions with another team, what if the 2022 NBA Champions decide to stay put? Well, they’d have to draft someone right outside of the top 10, but which prospects fit them the most?
I will start with my personal favorite from the candidate pool, Yaxel Lenderborg. The reigning national champion with the Michigan Wolverines has been linked to the Bay as a possible draft addition, and for good reason. He’s an excellent fit as an athletic and versatile wing defender who can also rebound and doesn’t lack offensively. The 23-year-old has gradually improved his three-point shooting, while remaining a slashing threat near the rim. An integral part of the 2026 March Madness winners, the Wolverines, Lenderborg could make an immediate impact as a Warrior. Even though he won’t play a single minute in the NBA before he turns 24, he combines relative youthfulness with six years of collegiate basketball at a position of need for Golden State.
Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz is another possibility I would love to see the Warriors explore. The 22-year-old has already achieved great feats, including leading the Hawkeyes past the top-seeded and defending champions, the Florida Gators, in the second round of March Madness. He was a pillar for an otherwise improbable run for Iowa into the Elite Eight, and the characteristics he brings to the table would fit Golden State well. Outside of Stephen Curry, the team from the Bay cannot confidently say they have another pick-and-roll specialist on their current roster. The young guard posted a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio as Iowa's primary ballhandler last year, but he can also create his own shots. Stirtz may find the NBA’s athleticism a challenge, and he’s by no means the world’s greatest defender, but the Warriors have liked him enough to work him out pre-draft at the Chase Center.
Finally, Arizona’s Brayden Burries may have spent just one season in the NCAA, but he definitely made an impact during his short stint with the Wildcats. The 20-year-old provides a more athletic guard option than Stirtz, with a six-foot-four, 205-pound frame that unlocks the capabilities of a noteworthy perimeter defender. The San Bernardino native was in attack mode in March, scoring double digits in all five of Arizona’s games, while shooting above 60% from beyond the arc in that stretch. Drawing player comparisons with the likes of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, Burries could lead the Warriors backcourt one day if he reaches his full potential.
