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Yaxel Lendeborg couldn’t have finished his first Summer League run much better, leading the Warriors to a 94-90 win over the Grizzlies in the championship game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. He earned the Championship Game MVP and the Tournament MVP after averaging 14.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists across six games in Las Vegas.
Summer League obviously isn’t the same as the regular season, but his performance came at the perfect time because the Warriors are entering 2026-27 with major questions on the wing. Jimmy Butler remains out after tearing his right ACL, while Moses Moody is also recovering from a ruptured left patellar tendon, leaving Golden State without its two best natural options at small forward.
The Warriors finished last season with a 37-45 record and lost in the second Play-In game after their year completely changed following Butler’s injury. Golden State was 25-19 with the NBA’s fourth-ranked defense before losing him, but the team couldn’t maintain that level without its best two-way wing, and the later extended Stephen Curry absence.
Here, I’m assuming LeBron James isn’t joining the Warriors to go to an East team, as Draymond Green will obviously re-sign after turning down his option to make more room for a potential LeBron reunion.
With Stephen Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Al Horford, and Green still around, Lendeborg could immediately become the young forward who connects the roster together.
Starting Lineup
Point Guard: Stephen Curry
Shooting Guard: De’Anthony Melton
Small Forward: Yaxel Lendeborg
Power Forward: Draymond Green
Center: Kristaps Porzingis
Steph Curry remains the clear foundation after averaging 26.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists last season, but the first interesting decision would come next to him. I think De’Anthony Melton should start over Brandin Podziemski because the Warriors need his perimeter defense more than another guard who wants the ball.
Melton posted 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last season, but his biggest value comes from guarding the opposing team’s best guard, fighting through screens, creating deflections, and giving Curry a better defensive partner. Starting Curry and Podziemski together would give Golden State more ball-handling, but it would also create a very small backcourt.
Lendeborg would enter at small forward because the roster doesn’t have another healthy player who matches his combination of size, rebounding, defense, and passing. He isn’t a typical wing for that role, but Golden State has never been afraid to experiment with more versatile lineups, especially when those players can switch defensively and move the ball.
His offensive role would be simple. Lendeborg can screen for Curry, cut behind defenders, run the floor, attack offensive rebounds, and take open threes without needing touches as Jonathan Kuminga did. He wouldn’t need to average 18 points to help this lineup because the Warriors mainly need him to bring energy, size, and athleticism.
Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis would complete the frontcourt, giving Golden State two very different big men. Green can run the offense, defend the toughest frontcourt matchup, and cover mistakes, while Porzingis provides shooting, size, and rim protection. That combination should give Lendeborg enough space to play his natural game without forcing him into a large offensive role.
Second Unit
Point Guard: Brandin Podziemski
Shooting Guard: Will Richard
Small Forward: Gui Santos
Power Forward: Al Horford
Center: Charles Bassey
Injured: Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody
Podziemski would become the clear sixth man and main creator whenever Curry rests. He averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 37.1% from three last season, so moving him to the bench wouldn’t reduce his importance at all.
Will Richard and Gui Santos will provide most of the young wing depth while Butler and Moody recover. Richard put up 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists as a rookie, bringing defensive energy and spot-up shooting, while Santos added 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with more strength and ability to attack the basket.
Al Horford would probably receive most of the backup-center minutes, even though he is listed at power forward here. His shooting, passing, and defensive positioning make him a much better fit next to Podziemski, Richard, and Santos than a traditional center who stays around the basket.
Charles Bassey would become the situational tenth man, mainly playing against larger centers or when Porzingis and Horford need rest. He averaged 5.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in only 11.7 minutes last season, giving the Warriors a physical rebounder and rim protector who can handle a few regular-season minutes.
The early rotation would probably include the five starters, Podziemski, Richard, Santos, and Horford, with Bassey moving in and out depending on the matchup. That isn’t the deepest bench in the league, but it has enough to survive until Butler or Moody returns.
Should Lendeborg Be The Starter This Season?
I think Lendeborg deserves to start for the Warriors until Jimmy Butler returns. With Curry, Melton, Green, and Porzingis already bringing plenty of shooting, passing, and experience, the fifth starter doesn’t need to be a big creator. He just needs to defend hard, rebound, run the floor, and make the easy plays.
That’s pretty much what Lendeborg showed during Summer League. He defended both forward positions well, moved the ball when he had to, attacked the glass, set good screens, and looked comfortable playing without forcing his own shots. Giving him around 24 to 28 minutes per game makes sense right now, especially if the Warriors keep his role simple: focus on energy, defense, and open threes.
His 35.7% from three was a nice sign, but nobody should expect him to become a sharpshooter overnight. The important thing will be if he can stay solid on defense, keep turnovers low, and make enough open shots so teams can’t just leave him alone on the perimeter.
Once Butler comes back, the situation gets more complicated. The safest lineup would probably be Curry, Melton or Podziemski, Butler, Green, and Porzingis, with Lendeborg coming off the bench as the main backup forward. But that doesn’t mean he should disappear from the starting picture completely.
The Warriors could still use him at power forward with Green at center when they want more speed and switching. Or they could go small with Curry, Melton, Butler, Lendeborg, and Porzingis when Green needs rest or isn’t playing well. Green shouldn’t lose his spot after one bad stretch, but at 36 years old and coming off a season where he shot just 32.6% from three, Steve Kerr can’t ignore other options forever.
For now, the decision feels pretty clear. Lendeborg was the No. 11 pick, had the best Summer League performance on the team, and fills exactly the kind of role the Warriors are missing with Butler and Moody out. He probably won’t start the whole season, but he has earned the first chance.
