Before Tuesday night’s first round of the 2026 NBA draft, the Warriors Wire team of Mack Baltes and Tommy Call III linked up to give their final predictions on what the Warriors could do when on the clock at No. 11. Baltes and Call III each gave their first and second options for No. 11, along with a darkhorse off-the-board surprise pick.
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Mack Baltes, Warriors Wire
Option 1: SG Brayden Burries (Arizona)
Although Burries may not be available with the No. 11 pick, it is conceivable that he slides down as opposed to other potential targets. Considering his strong perimeter defense and 3-point shooting, the former Wildcat may be the best fit for Golden State. In his freshman year with Arizona, he averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 49.1% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. Taking into account the current direction of the team, Burries seems like a player who can join the rotation and contribute right away while also having the potential to step up to another level following Steph Curry’s tenure.
Option 2: SG Cameron Carr (Baylor)
While the Warriors will definitely need reinforcements at center soon, considering the team has been “progressing” on a new deal with Kristaps Porzingis, they should target an athletic guard or forward in the first round. Not to mention, the current NBA is dominated by guards and wings. Like Burries, Carr is another player who not only has the tools and discipline to join the rotation right away but also has tremendous potential to be a future star. Carr showcased that potential during Day 1 of scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine, scoring 30 points on 9-for-18 shooting, 6-for-12 from 3-point range, while adding seven rebounds and two blocks. Last season with the Baylor Bears, Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.9 steals and an impressive 1.3 blocks while shooting 49.4% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range.
Dark-horse pick: PG Labaron Philon (Alabama)
Given the nature of this stacked 2026 NBA Draft class, many expect Philon to fall beyond Golden State at No. 11. Although you can certainly make the case that Philon isn’t the best prospect to join Golden State’s rotation right away, needing athleticism and defense on the wing, given Philon’s skillset, he’s one of the more intriguing draft prospects. Last season, the Alabama point guard averaged 22 points, five assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting over 50% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range. If selected, Philon could make a great choice to be Golden State’s point guard of the future and could be one of the steals of the draft.
Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire
Option 1: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg being available when the Warriors are on the clock at No. 11 overall feels like a too good to be true scenario for Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr. The 23-year-old do-it-all wing feels like a seamless fit with the Warriors. It almost seems too easy to slot Lendeborg’s name here at No. 11.
What can’t Lendeborg do? That’s probably the same question other general managers will be asking their scouts in draft war rooms on Tuesday night. Lendeborg has proven to be a ferocious defender that can switch across the floor, a willing and creative passer, while also crashing the glass as a rebounder. While he doesn’t have a huge ceiling as a shot creator, he impacts the game as a cutter and finisher around the rim. At 23-years-old, Lendeborg’s experience has added to his IQ, which shows in his ability to connect his offense even if he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. Pairing with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors would have suddenly three forwards that can all be playmakers and create for Steph Curry on the perimeter while also building a formidable group defensively.
OG Anunoby was a player the Warriors were long rumored to be interested in trading for before his move to the New York Knicks. Fast forward to the NBA Finals, Anunoby was one of the unheralded heroes of the Knicks’ run to the championship. While maybe their game is different offensively, in a perfect world, Lendeborg could potentially give the Warriors a bit of what Anunoby provides the Knicks on defense and as a rebounder and passer.
To make a deep run in the postseason, big and versatile wings like Lendeborg are required. The Warriors can’t miss their chance to draft one if available.
Option 2: Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
If Mike Dunleavy Jr. called me while on the clock on Tuesday night, it would be hard for me to talk him out of submitting the pick for Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. Thoughout the college basketball season and pre-draft process, the Alabama point guard has become one of my favorite players to watch. While he helped lead Nate Oats’ high-powered shoot-first offense at Alabama, Philon projects to be one of the 2026 class’s true floor generals. Something the Warriors could desperately use either alongside Steph Curry.
Philon would give the Warriors a true ball handler that could get the Warriors into Steve Kerr’s offense in the halfcourt while Curry is on the bench. Philon’s arrival would give the Warriors a solid ball-handler that could free Curry up to play off the ball and get into an offense around him. While Philon isn’t ultra-physical or athletic, he is a strong playmaker and can score at every level on the floor. Shooting 39.9% from beyond the arc on 6.2 3-point attempts last season, Philon can stretch the floor while also threatening the ability to get downhill to the rim, finishing at 65.7% at the rim last season.
Dark Horse: Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Yes, I could slot Aday Mara here, or Cameron Carr or even Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr., all players linked to the Warriors during the draft process, whether through a mock draft or a pre-draft workout. But, let’s really go off the board here. Jayden Quaintance would be a true surprise at No. 11. Early in the draft process, we saw the former five-star recruit’s name alongside the Warriors in some mock drafts, but it feels like, as the draft approaches, the Kentucky big man’s name has fallen down draft boards due to some injury question marks. Yet, if his knee is fully healthy, Quaintance could be a massive steal to whoever lands the 6-foot-10 big man.
In only four games for the Kentucky Wildcats last season, Quaintance showed why he was one of the gems of the transfer portals. Quaintance helped lift the Wildcats past Rick Pitino’s St. John’s in his first game back from injury with 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in only 17 minutes. However, lingering swelling from his right ACL tear shortened his tenure in Kentucky.
Before his arrival to Lexington, Quaintance proved to be one of the best defenders in the Big 12 at Arizona State as a 17-year-old freshman. Quaintance earned All-Big 12 Defense honors as a freshman, recording 2.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per contest for the Sun Devils.
If Mara is gone by No. 11, and the Warriors would like to add help to the frontcourt, Quaintance doesn’t appear to be a bad fallback plan. Quaintance has the untapped potential to be an elite rim protector with impressive athleticism that could help him switch on defense while also threatening the rim as a lob threat for Draymond Green and Stephen Curry. While there are some questions about his knee recovery, Quaintance, when healthy, projects as the type of big man the Warriors have been searching for in the draft throughout their franchise history.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: NBA Mock Draft: Warriors Wire makes final predictions for No. 11 pick
Reporting by Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
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By Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire | USA TODAY Network
