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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors claps after a basket during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

The Golden State Warriors had hoped to move up in last week’s NBA Draft Lottery. They stayed put at No. 11. It was not the outcome the organization was looking for, particularly with one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory sitting at the top of the board.

How Golden State uses that pick will say a lot about where this offseason is heading.

Steve Kerr is back. Stephen Curry is staying. The Warriors are in win-now mode. That context shapes every decision they make between now and draft night on June 23.

Warriors Leaning Toward Trading the Pick

According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the current lean inside the organization is toward trading the No. 11 pick rather than using it on a young prospect. With Curry’s championship window still open and the front office committed to making an immediate impact move this summer, packaging the pick in a trade for an established star makes more sense than drafting for the future.

The pick has real value in that context. Golden State already holds multiple future first-rounders to offer in any blockbuster deal. Adding the No. 11 selection to that package, particularly in a draft class that is generating significant buzz league-wide, could sweeten an offer for a target like Giannis Antetokounmpo or another star-level player.

The Bucks hold the No. 10 pick. Back-to-back selections in a loaded draft is exactly the kind of sweetener that could make a package more compelling to Milwaukee’s front office.

Five Prospects Being Scouted Closely

GettyYaxel Lendeborg of the Michigan Wolverines.

The caveat is that a lot can change between now and June 23. If no star trade materializes, the Warriors will use the pick, and they have done their homework on who will be available at No. 11.

Siegel reported that Golden State has been scouting five prospects closely since the start of 2026: Yaxel Lendeborg out of Michigan, Brayden Burries from Arizona, Morez Johnson Jr. also from Michigan, Nate Ament out of Tennessee, and Hannes Steinbach from Washington. Each fits a different profile, but the common thread is positional versatility and the ability to contribute quickly at the NBA level.

The Warriors have a strong track record in the draft when they get it right. Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry himself are the gold standard of what this organization can build through the draft. But the misses have been costly too. James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga were both high picks that never developed into the contributors Golden State needed them to be. The pressure to get this one right is real, and the scouting staff knows it.

What It Means for the Warriors’ Offseason

GettyStephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors.

The No. 11 pick is a tool, not a destination. Golden State’s priority this summer is giving Curry the help he needs to make a legitimate championship push. Everything else, including the draft pick, is in service of that goal.

If Giannis becomes available and the Warriors are in the conversation, that pick goes into the package. If Leonard stays in LA and other targets dry up, the pick stays and a prospect joins the rotation. Either way, the organization has a plan.

The draft is six weeks away. A lot will be decided before then.

Final Word for the Warriors

The Warriors stayed at No. 11. It was not the result they wanted, but it gave them something useful to work with.

A pick in a loaded draft has value in trade talks and on the board itself. Golden State will explore both options before committing to either.

Curry is not getting any younger. Every move this summer counts.