The Golden State Warriors learned that they would be picking 11th in the 2026 NBA Draft after Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery, which took place in Chicago. The Dubs had a 2% chance of landing the No. 1 pick and a 9.4% chance of landing a top-four pick. They got the No. 11 pick, which they had a 77.6% chance of landing.
The Warriors re-signed coach Steve Kerr to a two-year deal last Saturday and have a clear direction ahead of the 2026-27 season as they look to contend during Curry’s remaining years. While fans have speculated that the team could package its No. 11 pick in a trade deal, that seems unlikely to be the case.
According to a report from ESPN’s Marc Spears, Golden State would “like” to keep its lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
“The Warriors have that 11th pick and people are wondering if they get in the Giannis mix,” Spears said on NBA Today. “From what I’m being told today from several people, the Warriors like to keep that pick.”
Today, we will look at three names that the Warriors should target with their No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
3 players the Warriors should target in the 2026 NBA Draft
1) Karim Lopez
Karim Lopez has spent the last two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL. He is the closest thing to a professional that Golden State could get out of this draft. The 19-year-old prospect has NBA-ready size at 6-foot-8, with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and a high basketball IQ.
Lopez also registered a 38-inch vertical and could match up well against taller players in the paint. He played 31 games in the NBL last season, averaging 11.9 points, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, shooting 49%, including more than 40% from 3-point range.
2) Yaxel Lendeborg
Yaxel Lendeborg is another versatile forward who could provide immediate wing depth to Golden State. He is 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, who can score at all three levels and also impacts things on the defensive end.
At 24, Lendeborg is also one of the more experienced players in the upcoming draft. If drafted to Golden State, he would prove crucial in adding to the team’s wing depth that injuries to Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler have thinned.
Lendeborg played 40 games for the Michigan Wolverines last season, recording 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 51.5%, including 37.2% from 3-point range.
3) Aday Mara
Aday Mara measured 7-foot-3 with a 9-foot-9 standing reach at the NBA Draft combine. Despite his massive size, Mara moves with coordination and agility that allow him to impact the game at all three levels and on both ends.
He anchored the interior during Michigan’s championship run last season, averaging 2.6 blocks per game for the Wolverines. Mara played 40 games, recording 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.4 minutes per game.
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