SAN FRANCISCO– The Golden State Warriors have multiple needs to fill as they enter a pivotal offseason this summer. Among those needs are size, speed, and athleticism, which they’ve lacked for a while as an older team that continues to grow older.
What better way to address those needs than in the draft? Especially as the 2026 NBA Draft class looks to be filled with prospects who can immediately provide Golden State with the youth and energy it desperately needs around Stephen Curry.
The Warriors continued their pre-draft due diligence, working out six more prospects at Chase Center on Monday afternoon, including projected first-rounders Morez Johnson Jr. from Michigan and Chris Cenac Jr. from Houston. The two frontcourt players discussed their potential fit with the Warriors should Golden State select them in the lottery with the 11th overall pick, citing their physicality.
“I think I would bring some physicality, some versatility on the defensive end,” Johnson said. “[And] a connector on offense. Just trying to help everybody get to their spots, not trying to force anything, and being a great teammate.”
At Michigan, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds on 62.3 percent shooting as one of the premier defenders in the country, helping the Wolverines to a national championship. At 251 pounds and a plus-6 wingspan, Johnson projects to be a long, physical, switchable wing who can guard multiple positions and do enough on offense to raise everyone else’s floor, the kind of player who would slot in nicely in a Warriors system that values both of those things.
Cenac, who echoed Johnson’s sentiments, also talked about how he can be additive to Golden State’s offense.
“Being able to space the floor,” Cenac said, who averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds at Houston. “Giving all the guys on the team, Curry, space in the paint. And just showing defense. My matchup, defending, rebounding, and doing whatever it is that you know Steve Kerr and the organization would need me to do on the floor.”
Cenac, at 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, has the rare physical gifts to pop in the NBA. With the potential to develop his good jumpshot, along with the fluidity he’s flashed, Cenac projects to be an uber-athletic center with a promising all-around game, if he overcomes his inconsistency issues.
Morez Johnson Jr., Chris Cenac Jr. come from winning programs
A recent trend in the Warriors’ draft process has been selecting players from winning programs. Will Richard from Florida and LJ Cryer, also from Houston, are two recent NBA-ready prospects for whom Steve Kerr has credited their success to the fact that they spent multiple years in college under blue-blood coaches.
For Johnson, coming off a title with the Wolverines, says being around a top-tier program and learning how to win, shows up in his unsung traits.
“The second effort. Second, third, fourth effort, I think that’s a winner’s trait right there,” Johnson said. “Just showing you will do anything to win. Multiple efforts, not just trying one time and giving in. Just keep showing effort and being resilient.”
And Cenac, who was coached by the legendary Kelvin Sampson, explained how developing at Houston has prepared him for the NBA.
“In every aspect of physicality,” Cenac said of what Sampson taught him. “Just how hard you plan, when you’re on the floor, bringing that intensity every single time you’re on the court. He prepared me very well, and I’m like, I made the right decision on Houston, for sure.”
What will the Warriors do?
With eight days until draft night, the Warriors will conduct workouts throughout the rest of the week as they search for who they want to select with the 11th overall pick. Among those they’ve worked out publicly, along with Johnson and Cenac, the Warriors have also worked out Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg. The expectation is that Brayden Burries will also work out for Golden State sometime this week.
With Johnson, Cenac, and Lendeborg coming in, the Warriors seem to be signaling they are looking to address their needs along the wings and in the trenches.
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