With basketball gods making their will known through the ping pong balls, the Golden State Warriors landed right where they were expected to land, securing the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.
While striking out on breaking into the top four is bound to be a bit disappointing for the Warriors, landing at 11th was always the likeliest outcome, and there are plenty of prospects at that range that can give Golden State some much-needed youth next to Stephen Curry and his band of veterans (if they don't package that pick in a summer blockbuster trade).
Here are three prospects the Warriors should consider as they head into a pivotal summer.
SG Brayden Burries – Arizona
Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates after a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center.
Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Arizona alum Steve Kerr would not mind adding a Wildcat to his squad, but that's far from the only reason why the Warriors would select shooting guard Brayden Burries. If you ignore the Arizona connection, Burries profiles as the kind of player that Kerr tends to value.
In his lone season at Arizona, Burries averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 39.1% from beyond the arc. At 6-foot-4 and with a plus-two wingspan, Burries projects to be a sturdy two-way guard who can hound opposing guards at the point-of-attack and take on multiple roles in whatever offensive system he falls into, two traits all players need to make it in Kerr's system.
Defensively, Burries is the definition of active hands, a player who racks up deflections and moves his feet well. He's also a guy opponents fear in the passing lanes and has a good feel for the spatial complexities of the floor. That fits in nicely with a Warriors defense that was third in the league in steals per game.
And offensively, there's a lot to like about Burries' potential. At Arizona, he chose to take on a more balanced role that fit into the Wildcats system, rather than become a true 1A- level option. That willingness to sacrifice is highly important in a Warriors system that employs Curry and emphasizes ball-movement.
And in that sense, there's some meat on the bone for what Burries can be as a scorer. He's a good shooter, capable of attacking off the dribble, finishing at the rim, and pulling up to get his own when needed. It's been a revolving door at shooting guard next to Curry since Klay Thompson left. Burries has the tools to close that revolving door.
F Yaxel Lendeborg – Michigan
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
If there's anything to learn from the playoffs, it's that the Warriors, as currently constructed, are completely outclassed physically and athletically compared to the NBA's powerhouses. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody expected to miss a majority, if not all, of next season, Golden State is in desperate need of wing depth, and athletic wing depth at that.
Enter Yaxel Lendeborg, one of the driving forces behind the Wolverines' national title run. At 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, Lendeborg would immediately add some heft and muscle to a wing group that's only got Gui Santos right now.
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Like Burries, Lendeborg is an active defender, racking up blocks and deflections with his plus-seven wingspan. But his value lies in his switchability. Lendeborg is capable of defending all five positions, moves well on opposing guards, and has good feel in all areas of the court. He displayed a high motor on the defensive end; you'll never have to worry about effort and hustle from him.
And offensively, Lendeborg embodies a word Kerr likes to tout– connector. He's a great playmaker at his size, and the Michigan offense was at its best whenever he was facilitating. The Wolverines even ran some big-to-big pick-and-rolls with their massive centers screening for Lendeborg to great effect. Imagine Lendeborg in an inverted pick-and-roll with Curry.
There are some real knocks on Lendeborg. He's on the older side at 24; he was in the same high school class as Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley. Additionally, his shooting is a bit inconsistent. While he shoots 43.0% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, his percentage drops to 23.0% on unguarded threes. Not ideal on a Warriors team that shoots the most threes in the league.
PF Hannes Steinbach – Washington
Washington Huskies forward Hannes Steinbach (6) and Southern California Trojans guard Jordan Marsh (7) go for the ball during the overtime at United Center.
David Banks-Imagn Images
With the way the NBA's going, the days of the Warriors' old-school small ball are over. Contending in a conference with monsters like Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic requires some size and frontcourt depth. What better way to address that trend than by adding an interior shredder like Hannes Steinbach?
Measured at 6-foot-11 with an unconfirmed wingspan north of seven-feet, Steinbach was an absolute unit in the paint, using his huge frame to mangle opposing bigs. As a freshman at Washington, Steinbach averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.3 stocks (steals plus blocks) across 30 games.
As of late, Golden State has lacked a real bruiser in the paint. Green can be that on occassion but not for all 82 games. With how physical Steinbach is on the glass, and how sturdy he is keeping bigs off the offensive boards, the Warriors could use the heft to battle some of the behemoths out West.
And for a bruiser, Steinbach's got some touch. He's a decent dribbler and is very capable of playing in space, especially as a sharpshooter. He shot 34.0% on 1.8 3-point attempts, looking the most deadly in pick-and-pop situations. Like any team, Golden State values stretch bigs. But they've only addressed that value with veteran, injury-prone ones like Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. Time will tell if Steinbach can develop as an NBA shooter with more volume, but the tools and touch are there to be effective.
The downside is he's not exactly a stout rim-protector. Moves his feet well but lacks the elite verticality and shot blocking ability of the best defensive anchors. He's also very right-hand dominant, and teams leveraged that dependency by doubling him on that side in the post. Regardless, his motor and heft on the boards is hard to pass up on, especially given his shooting touch.
With basketball gods making their will known through the ping pong balls, the Golden State Warriors landed right where they were expected to land, securing the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.