With the Golden State Warriors poised to keep the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, after everyone drank a little bit of settle down juice regarding their decreased appetite to unload their chest this summer, speculation on who the Dubs could select with their lottery pick has begun.
Given the age of Golden State's stars, the lengthy injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, and the timeline they're on as they begin to prepare for life after Stephen Curry, it's imperative that the Warriors nail this pick. Not only to set up their future but also to potentially pry open a window for one last twilight run with this group.
That's the ideal for the Warriors.
A player who can bridge the present with the future. A player that provides them with the size, speed, athleticism, and shooting that seem almost requisite in the modern NBA, traits that the Warriors have lacked for a while now.
But that's every front office's dream. Even with the depth of this draft, at 11th overall, they are not going to find a player that checks every box on their wishlist. There are pros, cons, and fit concerns for every player the Warriors are considering.
Here's a breakdown of five prospects Golden State is reportedly looking at, according to ClutchPoints' insider Brett Siegel.
SF Nate Ament – Tennessee, Freshman
Tennessee Volunteers forward Nate Ament (10) shoots the ball past Virginia Cavaliers forward Thijs de Ridder (28) in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
A young, raw, scoring wing with the potential to become a star shot creator thanks to his unique combination of size and fluidity. At 19 and a half years old, Ament stands at 6′-9.50″ and 211 pounds with a plus-two wingspan.
Pros :Ament has all the makings of a high-upside prospect with measurables every NBA team wants and the flashes that demonstrate the potential of a classic go-to scorer. He's very comfortable in the midrange, with a high release point to shoot over contests, and a rare fluidity as a ball handler that elevates his potential.
He also has high defensive upside, with great instincts and great intangibles to match his huge frame. Moves his feet well on the perimeter and matches up well against big wings and forwards.
Ament is a developmental bet that can absolutely be the kind of pick that turns a franchise around– if he overcomes his bust potential.
Cons: He is a theoretical shooter at this point. Ament shot just under 40.0% from the field at Tennessee and only 33.3% from beyond the arc, converting less than 40.0% of his off-the-dribble jumpers. He also only shot 34.4% on unguarded catch-and-shoot attempts and 32.8% on guarded ones.
Additionally, his finishing, for a player of his size and stature, isn't as physical as you'd like. Relies on his length to finish around defenders rather than through them, eliminating the athletic gifts that make him intriguing. Shot in the 12th percentile on layups.
And that underscores a bigger issue– strength concerns. Would need to bulk up to handle NBA athletes.
**Fit:**Ament would immediately provide the Warriors with the size, length, and athleticism they are sorely lacking. The problem is that he's a project that needs time. And with where Golden State is at right now, there might not be the minutes or the wiggle room to develop him into his full potential.
But his floor may be higher than you'd think, thanks to his off-ball flashes. At Tennessee, Ament showed real skill and IQ navigating screens to create advantages on uncontested triples. In a Steve Kerr system that employs Curry, that could become Ament's calling card early on in his career, making for a deadly combo with the greatest shooter in NBA history.
PF Yaxel Lendeborg – Michigan, Senior
Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) celebrates against the Arizona Wildcats in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
A big, NBA-ready wing who can switch one-through-five on defense and has the skillset to be a good connector on offense. At 24 years old by the time the season begins, Lendeborg stands at 6′-8.75″ and 241 lbs, with a staggering 7′-4″ wingspan.
Pros:Lendeborg projects to be an absolute swiss-army knife, which is great in a league where you need your wings to be able to do everything. He was the linchpin in Michigan's dominant defense and the connector who made their offense make sense. Has the tools to give teams a lot of options in their lineups.
Great measurables, even greater length, and moves his feet very well, all of which should translate to the NBA. He's a good passer, a solid 3-point shooter, and just continued to level up everywhere he went.
And intangibly, he's just a winner, the kind of player that championship teams love, hence why the Wolverines dominated on their run through the tournament.
Cons: He is an older prospect. And NBA history says older prospects just tend to be what they are when they're drafted. And Lendeborg feels like a jack-of-all-trades rather than a master of one. In some ways, that's a strength, but you also need to be elite at something to really be great in the NBA.
You can also dock him on his handle; his tendency to be lackadaisical at times on both ends, but the biggest concern lies in his ceiling, which seems pretty low right now.
Fit: In many ways, he has the kit to be Green's successor as an all-around specialist. He can contribute immediately and would get minutes right away. The problem is that his ceiling feels lower as an older prospect and isn't the kind of player you'd imagine as picking up the torch once the stars are gone.
He will also need to adjust his game to lower usage as the Warriors have other, better players who will facilitate the offense. Golden State likes high-floor players, like Brandin Podziemski for example, but in the grand scheme of things, it's a big question whether Lendeborg's game is on the rise or if it has peaked.
SG Cameron Carr – Baylor, Sophomore
Baylor Bears guard Cameron Carr (43) scores a layup as Utah Utes guard Terrence Brown (2) defends during the first half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit:
Chris Jones-Imagn Images
An explosive guard with uber athleticism and high shooting upside that are only halted by a lack of consistency. At 21-years-old, Carr stands at 6′-4″ and 184 lbs with a huge 7-foot wingspan.
Pros: Eye-test-wise, Carr absolutely pops off the screen with his high-flying electric acrobatics. He is a bona fide dunker and finisher. Shot 64.7% on layups and destroyed defenses in transition. He pairs those skills with an elite slashing ability, scoring 1.8 points per possession, which landed him in the 99th percentile.
But he has elite movement shooting ability, doubling his already potent off-ball, complementary abilities. Shot over 40% on catch-and-shoot threes, 41.0% on guarded ones and 38.1% on unguarded ones. Good at navigating off-ball screens and spotting up all over the floor.
Also boasts great defensive upside given his physical tools.
Cons: He does need to actually use his physical tools on the defensive end to reach that potential. Very theoretical defender. Makes bad gambles, has some questionable discipline, and Baylor rarely trusted him as the POA guy. Needs to level up IQ-wise and intangibly to defend NBA-level guards despite having the potential physically.
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Also not the best on-ball creator. You don't want him running a pick-and-roll, and you don't want him creating off the dribble as his handle remains pretty loose.
Fit: If you can play off-ball and be complementary, you'll make it on the Warriors. Especially since he can shoot and slash. And again, he has athleticism and pop that the Warriors do not have. The Dubs are so horizontally inclined. They need real verticality other than Gary Payton II.
But to play on Kerr's team, you need to defend. They've leveled up bad defenders in the past, but there needs to be real commitment there. He has the tools; he just needs to learn how to use them.
But Carr has a good floor and enough ceiling to match the Warriors' needs.
PG Kingston Flemings – Houston, Freshman
A savvy, well-rounded point guard with exhilarating speed, downhill punch, and playmaking beyond his years. At 19-years old, Flemings stands at 6′-2.50″ and 183 lbs, with a 6′-3.5″ wingspan
Pros: Flemings is a unique pairing of elite athleticism and elite IQ, pairing the two to be a very creative point guard, both as a scorer and a playmaker. Can burn you with his speed or pick you apart with his decision-making. And he proved he can play above his sub-optimal measurements that don't measure some of the quick-twitch intangibles that make small guards like Jalen Brunson deadly.
Three-level scorer with good off-ball potential. Hard to pin down and plays with some real power and burst that makes him a high-ceiling prospect.
Comes from a winning program in Houston and Kelvin Sampson and
Cons: Flemings is a small defender who will need to bulk up to handle NBA physicality. And in general, the NBA seems to be moving away from undersized guards who don't have the physical tools to negate their physical weaknesses. Could effect his finishing as against NBA-calibur college player, Flemings' finishing took a dip.
It isn't for a lack of effort; Fleming tries his best and has great instincts and IQ. But teams will need to build accordingly to mitigate his weaknesses. He's not a player you can just slot into any system.
Also has some concerns regarding whether his outside jumper will translate.
***Fit:***It would be weird to add another guard to the Warriors' guard-heavy roster. Especially an undersized one who doesn't project as a plus defender. Not to mention a guard who needs the ball in his hands. But the Warriors do need some real scoring punch. They lack dribble penetration and real on-ball threats.
They'd just have to be willing to remain small in a league that demands size and length.
C Aday Mara – Michigan, Junior
Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) blocks the shot of UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) during the first half in the national championship of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament between the and the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
A tall, bruising center who can protect the rim, finish above it, and be a plus-playmaker at the five. At 21 years old, Mara stands at 7′-3″ and 260 lbs, with a 7′-7″ wingspan.
Pros:Mara is just a physical behemoth. And that's honestly needed in a league with Victor Wembanyama and the big men on the rise. Has all the makings of a classic center with his abilities as a defensive anchor, shot blocker, rebounder, and diver in the pick-and-roll.
What makes him unique is his playmaking. He's got great vision and touch, finding his teammates when given duties at the top of the key. Has some real sauce to his passing, whether it be finding the skip pass or misdirecting the defense. One of the best passing big men in recent years. That makes him more than just a bulky, one-dimensional center, very similar to Isaiah Hartenstein in that regard.
Cons: He kind of has all the negatives that a traditional, big center has. Slow on his feet, bad in the perimeter, hard for him to get low, and if you ask him to do anything on offense outside of the paint, it's not going to look pretty. Shot 58.5% from the free throw line, so prone to Hack-A strategies. It also takes a lot of energy to lug around that 7′-3″, 260 lb body, giving him concerns stamina-wise
All of that limits his offensive floor and the players you can play around him.
Fit: Mara won't help their spacing concerns, but he will help their lack of real size. Green can't be playing center nearly as much in his old age. And if they do bring back Kristaps Porzingis, they need an innings-eater to fill out his limited minutes.
But we've seen playmaking, rim-protecting centers thrive in Kerr's system. Think back to Andrew Bogut, an underrated part of the Dubs' dynasty. Get Curry a guy who can screen, pass, and roll, and it's going to work. It's just that his ceiling isn't exactly star level.
With the Golden State Warriors poised to keep the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, after everyone drank a little bit of settle down juice regarding their decreased appetite to unload their chest this summer, speculation on who the Dubs could select with their lottery pick has begun.