Warriors GM Says Joe Lacob Pushed to Draft Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11

Q: How do new anti-tanking rules turn every draft decision into a high-stakes gamble for NBA teams?

The NBA’s new anti-tanking framework makes draft strategy far less predictable, so every pick and every minute on the clock carries more risk. Under the league’s new 3-2-1 lottery system, set to start with the 2027 draft, the worst teams are no longer rewarded the way they once were. The bottom three teams get worse odds at the No. 1 pick than teams just above them, and they can still slide deep into the lottery. That means losing on purpose is no longer a reliable path to elite talent; a franchise can endure a bad season and still miss out on a top prospect. The rules also limit repeat lottery windfalls. Teams cannot win the top pick in consecutive years or land in the top five for three straight drafts. That changes the value of long rebuilds and even affects traded future picks, because a pick’s upside may be capped by the original team’s recent lottery history. Front offices now have to weigh not just who they like, but how league rules may reshape the value of the asset itself. That pressure helps explain why teams such as Golden State use every second on draft night. Mike Dunleavy said the Warriors were united on Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11, but he still wanted the full five minutes to check for trade options and avoid missing a better move. In this environment, a rushed decision can cost a team immediate help, future flexibility, or both. The anti-tanking rules have turned the draft from a reward system into a more volatile, high-stakes market.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports Bay Area · Jun 24

Mike Dunleavy said the Warriors had already settled on Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick, despite a viral draft-room clip showing a tense exchange with owner Joe Lacob.
Dunleavy said the discussion centered on whether to keep exploring trade options during the five-minute clock, while Lacob grew impatient and wanted to submit the pick.
Golden State's GM said he was comfortable waiting because no team could jump ahead once the Warriors were on the clock, and the front office ultimately agreed on Lendeborg.
The explanation suggests the moment reflected timing and trade due diligence rather than disagreement over the player, whom the Warriors viewed as the best available prospect.