The Warriors’ 11th Pick in the NBA Draft

The Golden State Warriors hold the 11th pick in this month’s NBA Draft, which, interestingly, could significantly influence not only the tail end of Stephen Curry’s career but also the long-term trajectory of the franchise.

This week, the focus is on five potential prospects that General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. might consider.

Mores Johnson Jr.

Year: 20

Position: Forward

Height/Weight: 6ft 9 / 250lbs

School: Michigan

Why Mores Johnson Jr. Could Be a Good Fit

The Warriors struggled with frontcourt depth towards the end of last season, even resorting to signing a center for their G League team. The reality was that they finished the regular season without any NBA experience in that position.

With players like Charles Bassey, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, and Quinten Post all having uncertain futures, there’s a chance for a player like Johnson, who carries a well-rounded game and physique, to make an impact. Alongside him, there’s potential synergy with Jaksel Lendeborg and 7-foot-3 Adei Mara, who could also be lottery picks, forming one of the more physically dominant frontcourts in college basketball.

Johnson’s defensive transitions and physical style may evoke memories of players like Draymond Green. He also shares a similar wingspan of 7 feet 3.5 inches, which contributed to Green’s elite defensive status.

Could He Be Available at 11th?

Johnson is a classic case of a player with a high floor but potentially limited upside. While he doesn’t have a 3-point shot in his arsenal and isn’t particularly inclined to develop one, he possesses the strength to finish at the rim despite contact. However, he might lack extensive skills or movement in his game.

That said, he seems to understand his strengths well—his stats reflect a record-setting field goal percentage in Illinois as a freshman. At Michigan, he started all 40 games, averaging 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds with a fantastic 62.7 percent shooting rate near the basket.

Though he sometimes makes questionable decisions on offense—evidenced by having more turnovers (53) than assists (48)—his defensive skills could help compensate for these offensive lapses. Still, he will have to work on minimizing fouls moving forward.

NBA Comparison: Isaiah Stewart

Given his physicality, Johnson is unlikely to be outmatched in the NBA. He offers a potential upside that surpasses some other lottery talents and could fit right into the Warriors’ defensive strategy.

Additional Prospects

• Jaxel Lendeborg might emerge as a candidate in the NBA Draft.
• Brayden Burries could serve as a valuable playmaker for the Warriors.
• Hannes Steinbach may provide crucial rebounding support.
• Baylor guard Cameron Carr could act as a bridge for the next era of the Warriors.