The Golden State Warriors didn't get the lottery bounce they were hoping for this year. After the NBA draft lottery results came in from Chicago on Sunday, the team is set to pick 11th overall in next month's draft—the most likely outcome given their season record.
Finishing 37-45, the 11th-worst record in the league, gave the Warriors a 77.6% chance of landing at No. 11. They had just a 2% shot at the No. 1 overall pick (which went to the Washington Wizards) and only 9.4% odds of cracking the top four. So while the ping-pong balls didn't deliver any surprises, the pick itself remains a valuable piece for general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. as the front office looks to retool around 38-year-old superstar Steph Curry.
The lottery came just a day after a major dose of clarity for the franchise: ESPN reported that head coach Steve Kerr had agreed to a two-year contract extension, keeping him on the sidelines for a 13th and 14th season. With the Curry-Kerr duo—architects of four championships—locked in, Golden State now has options. The 11th pick could be a trade chip in talks for another star to pair with Curry, with names like Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) or Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) floating around as potential targets.
But there's also a compelling case for keeping the pick. This draft class is being hailed as one of the deepest in recent memory. ESPN analyst Bobby Marks even compared it to the legendary 1996 draft, which produced 10 future All-Stars, including Kobe Bryant. BYU wing AJ Dybantsa is emerging as the consensus No. 1 pick, but Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and UNC big man Caleb Wilson are all in the mix for the top spot.
For the Warriors at No. 11, Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg is a name to watch. A consensus All-American who will be 24 on draft night, Lendeborg is the kind of polished, college-tested player that Kerr has historically favored. Warriors assistant GM and director of player personnel Larry Harris noted, "There certainly are different tiers of different players," hinting that the team will be weighing all their options as they look to balance immediate contention with long-term roster health.