The Warriors will host six prospects on Thursday for a pre-draft workout, the team announced (via Twitter). According to Golden State, that group will feature Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg.
Lendeborg is coming off a memorable 2025/26 season in which he was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year, was named a consensus first-time All-American, and won a national championship with the Wolverines. The 6’9″ forward, who will turn 24 in September, is considered a probable lottery pick and is viewed as perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the 2026 draft class, which could make him an intriguing fit for a Golden State team that holds the 11th overall pick and is looking to make the most of Stephen Curry‘s late 30s.
Besides Lendeborg, Thursday’s workout group will also include Tennessee center Felix Okpara, Utah State guard Drake Allen, Illinois guard Kylan Boswell, South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson, and Ole Miss big man Malik Dia, per the team. Okpara (No. 46 on ESPN’s big board) and Boswell (No. 55) are considered the highest-rated prospects among those five players.
Here are more updates on pre-draft workouts around the NBA:
- Louisville guard Mikel Brown, a projected top-10 pick, has recently met with the Nets and Bucks in Orlando and also has pre-draft visits lined up with the Hawks, Clippers, and Mavericks, according to James Barlowe of NBA Big Board (Twitter link). Each of those clubs holds a pick between No. 5 and No. 10 in this year’s draft.
- The Kings are hosting Marquette guard Chase Ross, San Diego State guard Reese Dixon-Waters, Providence guard Jaylin Sellers, Cal forward Chris Bell, Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington, and George Washington center Rafael Castro for a workout on Thursday, per James Ham of The Kings Beat (Twitter link). While none of those players are top prospects, Castro (No. 73), Washington (No. 85), and Sellers (No. 99) show up on ESPN top 100.
- UConn forward Alex Karaban and St. John’s forward Bryce Hopkins were among the players who worked out for the Timberwolves on Sunday, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News and SKOR North. Karaban is viewed as a potential first-round pick, coming in at No. 30 on ESPN’s big board, while Hopkins ranks 48th. Minnesota holds the 28th and 59th overall picks in the 2026 draft.
Warriors know who they are picking with the 1st round pick Lendeborg. The other players are there for who they pick in the 2nd round. Warriors are also looking at picking up another 2nd round pick.
They have two summer league teams to fill. Might as well bring in as many as possible.
i got a feeling they are looking at getting another 2nd round pick. Could mean trading Post to another team or buying 1 from a team that is out of roster space.
I say trade with OKC the 11th plus cash for the 12th, 17th and 37th. Take Carr, Lopez, and there are a couple of draft and stash bigs in the 2nd round.
Carr and Lopez can help right now.
OKC would want more than just cash. The warriors could trade a future 1st round top 6 protected draft pick with that package. Like I said keep an eye on Lendeberg and Lopez. Bucks or mavs could screw it all up by picking Lendeberg. They are not the smartest organizations.
Golden State Warriors will not draft and keep Yaxel Lendeberg. A 6–10 slow small forward who can’t defend on the wing is of no use to the Warriors.
He played six years.., six full seasons of college basketball and he comes out of his age age 23 season averaging 15 points a game against teenagers?
This kid played Junior college Ball three years ago. He wasn’t even recruited out of high school.
But now that he’s approaching his mid 20s he’s suddenly an NBA prospect for a team with playoff aspirations? Give me a break.
Who says they are drafting him to keep him too? Why i will not get excited about drafting a player until we hear all the trades afterwards. Warriors know that other teams are looking to draft him. Could be a good time to draft and trade down for more assets. Let’s say OKC wants him badly so you draft him then trade him for their 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick. Warriors are also a team that never let’s anyone know who they are leaning to pick up. Would you trade #11 to OKC for #17 and #37?
The Warriors are bringing him in for a workout to take a look at him. That’s what it says in the article above. I’m saying despite that information, the Warriors won’t draft and keep him.
I’m not sure what would be the ideal trade, perhaps 17 and 37 as you mention, but they probably can’t just draft at 11 and keep that college guy, whoever it is. They need to do something creative to get this team some better players.
It is quite possible that 17 and 37 brings in 2 rotation players instead of simply 1 guy they could have at 11?
We’ll see how it goes. Just a few weeks away.
You seen how drafts go there are deals that get announced right after the draft or even 5 minutes after a player is drafted. The deals are usually already happened so a team picks the player who is trading for that pick. Keep a eye on Lopez. If he is available at 17th pick and warriors take Lendeberg i will bet you a trade happens.
Yes, and sometimes even weeks later. Remember BJ Armstrong years ago? Warriors had the acquisition in place at the draft, but couldn’t complete it so much later because of different contract or free agent things.
MDJ is very cunning deal maker if lacob keeps out of it. look what he got in the Thompson deal. i am leaning towards a trade for more assets and slide down the draft a little bit to get a big man.
Agreed. I’m always weary of older college players who played at least 5 years of college ball with above average stats. They are literally men playing amongst boys, so of course they are more mature (for the time being), but they come with inflated numbers.
Once you put them with literal professionals with chest hair who are even more mature and gifted then them, they usually revert to the average player they always were.
I see Yaxel’s agent won’t allow him to work out against guys who could be drafted at around the same time…, Wouldn’t want him to look over matched versus other power forwards or quick forwards.
Smart strategy, but hopefully the warriors see through it and don’t get mesmerized by an almost 25 year-old doing well against guys who probably won’t get drafted.
No brainer pick here for the Warriors if Lendeborg is still available, he could be Draymond’s replacement
But Greymond is still around? So now what?
Yes exactly.., no Lendeborg. I like the way you think !!
I think GSW trades the #11 pick, the best fits for them are all near the front, and they likely will not trade up. They would rather trade for Giannis.