BR's draft grade article is a riot. Spell out why our selection was bad including this brutally accurate summation of where we are going as a team:
"If Golden State just sacrificed upside to chase a couple of play-in tournament invitations, though, the Warriors will regret not taking a better long-term flier with this lottery pick."
And then still give it a B-, an all-in-all positive grade.
I am on Cloud 9 and floating on air over the W's selecting Yaxel. As I wrote previously, he is extremely competent in all phases of the game. Defender, 3 point, inside, drives to the hoop, makes his free throws, outstanding character. I watched him play 25 + games for Michigan . His one fault is that he is too unselfish. Please stop whining about his age. With his maturity and attitude, he is ready to start the 1st game. So what if he can only play for 12 or 14 more years instead of 17.
He will put Moses and to shame by comparison. I cannot wait to see it.
Happy with the draft so far and for Yaxel. I think he'll maximize his potential in Golden State. The only question is what that potential is. I do think that he might get a lot of playing time very quickly, even off the bench.
I hope we can buy a pick tomorrow, can never have too many 2nds.
Was a fun draft (even if I missed some of it). Thanks for another great draft night and let's see what tomorrow brings!
>>>Mike Dunleavy on his pre-pick interaction with Joe Lacob: “We got into it about the best golf course in San Francisco.” Later said there was some discussion about possible trades before they took Yaxel Lendeborg. <<<
I have no clue about the 2nd round options but MDJ has a good track record for picks in the 50s, so I'll trust that he gets us someone reasonably good. That is, if we don't trade the pick.
Happy with Yax (per Kyrsten Peak of yahoo he goes by Yax). Not an exciting pick, but steady and you know what you’re getting. I suspect he will play immediately - normally might grow in G league Santa Cruz- but with Jimmy and Moses out we need him to play right away. Kerr will be forced into developing him on the court. Defense and speed on the break will be his calling cards.
Yaxel’s a great pick. Easily peak of his powers Draymond potential with more mobility/fluidity with his build.
Also: fuck Aday Mara. He ain’t stopping Wemby. All they have to do is drag him out to the perimeter and he’ll be helpless. He can’t even play a full game either. He’ll probably carve out a decent back up role but I hope he fails miserably.
Also (partly for old time’s sake, partly because I’m a UCLA fan) I would be only slightly mad if the Dubs grabbed Tyler Bilodeau in the second round. He’s basically David Lee with a 3-ball. What a nostalgia vibe that would be.
I might be the only one who didn’t bother doing any research on any non lottery prospects so I have no idea who is even in play for us tomorrow in the 2nd round
I did no research on ANY of these guys. I hate getting attached to guys that the Dubs don't pick, so I just wait until the choice is made before going all in with them.
Likewise. Tonight is the first time I'm seeing any Yaxel tape or highlights. Seems like he could be a useful player for GSW with his size, defense, and versatility.
He was my pick in the DubNationHQ draft tourney - once again, great fun to participate. Size, defend five positions - he's going to get even better with Draymond in his ear.
In 2021, I rooted for the Warriors to pick JK even if Franz was the obvious system fit. I thought JK had the higher ceiling and the offense can run through him.
The fact that all other more tempting prospects were picked before him (Burries, Moretz, Flemings) made this an easy choice. Yaxel feels like a chance for redemption from the JK pick over Franz.
It also gives Draymond a chance to redeem himself from the way he treated JP. Hopefully Dray doesn't blow it, and mentors Yax to be his successor.
BR's draft grade article is a riot. Spell out why our selection was bad including this brutally accurate summation of where we are going as a team:
"If Golden State just sacrificed upside to chase a couple of play-in tournament invitations, though, the Warriors will regret not taking a better long-term flier with this lottery pick."
And then still give it a B-, an all-in-all positive grade.
This is a good time for haters to put down who they preferred at #11. From my own list I see two players above Yaxel.
I am on Cloud 9 and floating on air over the W's selecting Yaxel. As I wrote previously, he is extremely competent in all phases of the game. Defender, 3 point, inside, drives to the hoop, makes his free throws, outstanding character. I watched him play 25 + games for Michigan . His one fault is that he is too unselfish. Please stop whining about his age. With his maturity and attitude, he is ready to start the 1st game. So what if he can only play for 12 or 14 more years instead of 17.
He will put Moses and to shame by comparison. I cannot wait to see it.
Ever since Sleepy brought up Sergio De Larrea, I've wanted him, for utterly stupid reasons (he's from Valladolid, where I am now). So, sigh.
A 6'6" PG who can shoot would have been fun to watch. Instead the effing Mavs took him at pick 25.
But, congratulations to Goofus for sticking the landing on the Yaxel.
Happy with the draft so far and for Yaxel. I think he'll maximize his potential in Golden State. The only question is what that potential is. I do think that he might get a lot of playing time very quickly, even off the bench.
I hope we can buy a pick tomorrow, can never have too many 2nds.
Was a fun draft (even if I missed some of it). Thanks for another great draft night and let's see what tomorrow brings!
Just watched his Warriors post-workout presser from about 2 weeks ago. Yax seems to be a really nice human being.
>>>Mike Dunleavy on his pre-pick interaction with Joe Lacob: “We got into it about the best golf course in San Francisco.” Later said there was some discussion about possible trades before they took Yaxel Lendeborg. <<<
https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1ue2rux/slater_mike_dunleavy_on_his_prepick_interaction/
I have no clue about the 2nd round options but MDJ has a good track record for picks in the 50s, so I'll trust that he gets us someone reasonably good. That is, if we don't trade the pick.
Happy with Yax (per Kyrsten Peak of yahoo he goes by Yax). Not an exciting pick, but steady and you know what you’re getting. I suspect he will play immediately - normally might grow in G league Santa Cruz- but with Jimmy and Moses out we need him to play right away. Kerr will be forced into developing him on the court. Defense and speed on the break will be his calling cards.
Yaxel’s a great pick. Easily peak of his powers Draymond potential with more mobility/fluidity with his build.
Also: fuck Aday Mara. He ain’t stopping Wemby. All they have to do is drag him out to the perimeter and he’ll be helpless. He can’t even play a full game either. He’ll probably carve out a decent back up role but I hope he fails miserably.
(No I’m not biased at all as a jilted UCLA fan)
Also (partly for old time’s sake, partly because I’m a UCLA fan) I would be only slightly mad if the Dubs grabbed Tyler Bilodeau in the second round. He’s basically David Lee with a 3-ball. What a nostalgia vibe that would be.
I've literally never seen Bilodeau but I'm guessing that's not true. David Lee with a 3-ball is a perennial all-star.
I might be the only one who didn’t bother doing any research on any non lottery prospects so I have no idea who is even in play for us tomorrow in the 2nd round
I did no research on ANY of these guys. I hate getting attached to guys that the Dubs don't pick, so I just wait until the choice is made before going all in with them.
Likewise. Tonight is the first time I'm seeing any Yaxel tape or highlights. Seems like he could be a useful player for GSW with his size, defense, and versatility.
not to worry - any real sports fan is watching soccer - all others are trying to suck up to dub nation! :-(
terrible take
Believe it or not there are real sports fans who don't care about soccer. It's also baseball season!
You are not alone
Personally, I wouldn't take any of the players taken after Carr over Isaiah Evans.
He is the best player not taken in the first round, IMHO.
The only players on my personal big board not taken were:
24. Isaiah Evans
28, Meleek Thomas
29. Henri Veesaar
The only players not in my personal big board's top 30 who were taken were:
31. Zuby Ejiofor (taken 23)
33. Alex Karaban (taken 29)
39. Sergio de Larrea (taken 25)
However, I totally understand why Ejiofor and Karaban were taken earlier than I expected, and I am anything but an expert on European players.
But I don't get how or why a shooter as young and as good as Evans dropped out of the first round.
The Knicks totally lucked out on that one.
It's nice to have Yaxel back from this 5 year injury since we drafted him in 2021. Looking forward to seeing him out there!
He was my pick in the DubNationHQ draft tourney - once again, great fun to participate. Size, defend five positions - he's going to get even better with Draymond in his ear.
And Al?!
In 2021, I rooted for the Warriors to pick JK even if Franz was the obvious system fit. I thought JK had the higher ceiling and the offense can run through him.
The fact that all other more tempting prospects were picked before him (Burries, Moretz, Flemings) made this an easy choice. Yaxel feels like a chance for redemption from the JK pick over Franz.
It also gives Draymond a chance to redeem himself from the way he treated JP. Hopefully Dray doesn't blow it, and mentors Yax to be his successor.
This is more akin to taking davion mitchell and chris duarte in that draft than it is taking franz.
The do-over season.
Welp, I guess I gotta scout Yaxel. I refused to scout him because of his age, but I guess I got to lol.
Older than Josh Giddey
Great commentary!
Yaxel seems like a pick that fits for the Warriors.
Thanks Eric and everybody
this was fun