It almost feels impossible to designate winners of the NBA Draft right away, as it takes at least one or two seasons to truly know which team got the best value from a class so loaded with talent.s However, one NBA executive believes the Golden State Warriors won the draft by selecting Yaxel Lendeborg.
An Eastern Conference executive told ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel that the Warriors are the biggest winners of the draft and that Lendeborg will be helpful straight away for a team that is throwing every last chip into winning another championship in the Steph Curry window.
“The Warriors got their guy,” the executive said via Siegel. “We kept saying, ‘The Warriors are going to get him. The Warriors are going to get him’ during the first round. That was a perfect match ever since the lottery was announced — a win-now guy who can give you 30 or more minutes a game in any role. We saw Yaxel during the pre-draft process and thought he was one of the most NBA-ready guys out of anyone we brought in. He can really play and do a lot of things well.”
It is wholly obvious that General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and his staff entered this draft with a clear vision: the Warriors are committed to maximizing the Curry window. Regardless of the debate in the weeks leading up to draft night, whether to select developmental prospects like Brayden Burries or arguably one of most NBA-ready talent in this class, forward Yaxel Lendeborg, Dunleavy made a decisive choice that could set the tone for the franchise.
Lendeborg is 23 years old and will turn 24 when the season starts. He already plays a very pro-style game. At 6-foot-9 ad 230 pounds, his fearless style of play on both ends of the court widely discussed behind the scenes as a first-round talent. The Warriors knew that taking him was well worth the risk, knowing they could be rewarded in a big way.
Yaxel Lendeborg Is Ready For A Big Role With Warriors
On Friday, Lendeborg was introduced to the media as a Warriors player for the first time, answering a variety of questions. He led things off by talking about how happy he is to play next to Steph Curry.
“They put my locker right next to Steph, so I know we got a lot of work to do to become best friends,” he said. “But I’m definitely excited that I’m going to be able to learn as much as I can from him. Hopefully, some of his shooting can rub off on me, and we can go a long way.”
It is always good for an organization when they are able to draft players who truly want to be there. Despite admitting that he used to ‘hate Curry’ during the dynasty years, he will now get an opportunity to know what it’s like playing next to him for the first time in his career.
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