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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Even though the NBA season is a few months away, it's certainly not too early to start thinking about each team's x-factor.
The Golden State Warriors are frankly in a tricky spot. They still have Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, two players who helped define an era of basketball, but they also know the clock is ticking. Finding players who can help now while also building toward the future is the challenge.
Yaxel Lendeborg could be the kind of pick that helps with both. Oh, and the fun banter between him and Green is just icing on the cake.
The Warriors selected the Michigan forward with the No. 11 pick after he played a major role in the Wolverines' national championship run. What stood out wasn't just one skill. It was the way he impacted the game everywhere.
Lendeborg can defend. He can rebound. He can make plays. He brings an energy level that fits a team trying to stay competitive. That could earn him minutes early.
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Golden State's frontcourt has needed more size and versatility, and Lendeborg checks a lot of those boxes. The Warriors aren't drafting him just to sit and develop. They need players who can help right away.
That's what makes this pick interesting. Golden State didn't land a top-five selection where the decision might have been about finding the next face of the franchise. Instead, the Warriors found a player who fits what they need at this moment.
Curry has made it clear he wants to keep playing meaningful basketball. That's great, and Lendeborg gives Golden State another young piece who could help keep that goal alive.
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The Warriors also selected Lajae Jones in the second round, adding another prospect to develop. But Lendeborg is the player who could make an impact first.
If his defense, toughness, and all-around game translate quickly, he could become one of the most important young players on Golden State's roster. For a team trying to extend its championship window, that's exactly the type of addition it needed.
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