In today’s Dub Hub:
- ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has the Warriors selecting Aday Mara in his latest NBA mock draft.
- Prospects Chris Cenac Jr. and Morez Johnson Jr. speak to media following Monday’s pre-draft workout with the Warriors.
- Bulls announce the hiring of Tiago Splitter as their next head coach.
With the 2025-26 NBA season officially in the books following the New York Knicks’ championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs, the league’s attention now shifts to the 2026 NBA Draft. The Golden State Warriors hold the No. 11 overall pick and have several directions they could go as they look to maximize what remains of Stephen Curry’s final years.
With the first round set for next Tuesday, June 23, at 5:00 p.m. PT, here’s who the experts believe could be headed to Golden State:
- ESPN’s Jeremy Woo: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
- Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
- NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson: Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan, Power Forward
- ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Power Forward
- The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Power Forward
- Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman: Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers, Small Forward
- SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan, Power Forward
- Associated Press: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
- Tankathon: Aday Mara, Michigan, Center
- USA Today’s Microsoft Copilot’s AI: Nate Ament, Tennessee, Small Forward
Of the prospects listed above, Michigan’s 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara emerged as the most popular selection along with his fellow teammates Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr. While the Warriors have already hosted both Lendeborg and Johnson for pre-draft workouts, Mara has not been publicly reported to have worked out for Golden State as of yet. Even so, the Michigan center’s combination of elite size and passing ability could make him an intriguing fit alongside the Warriors’ veteran core.
Here’s what ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had to say about Mara in his latest mock draft.
Mara is expected to be the first center off the board and appears slated for the 8-to-12 range. There is strong interest in him, with Atlanta, Dallas, Golden State and Oklahoma City among the teams noted, and he could ultimately be a player teams trade up to acquire.
Mara has been a steady riser with an outlier-level mix of size, coordination and skill as a true 7-footer that is extremely difficult to find. With NBA teams tilting back toward fielding size up front — and as the league prepares to counter Victor Wembanyama for the next decade — Mara’s sheer size and ability to manipulate defenses with the pass make him fascinating to many teams.
As Michigan prospects continue to dominate these mock draft roundups for the Warriors, all eyes will be on Golden State next week to see whether the front office ultimately turns to Ann Arbor when they make their selection at No. 11 overall.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Tuesday, June 16th:
Warriors News:
2026 NBA mock draft: Projecting all 60 picks in Rounds 1 and 2 | ESPN
Rival teams believe the Warriors are after a player who can contribute to the rotation next season — as they work to maximize their chances in the final stretch of Stephen Curry‘s career — but will take a best-available positional approach.
Why Warriors could use a player like Morez Johnson Jr. on their roster | NBC Sports Bay Area
Johnson leapt onto the radar of NBA teams after averaging 13.1 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds for the Wolverines. Among the NBA players draft services consider reasonable comparables are Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart, Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford and Houston Rockets veteran Clint Capela.
“I think that I bring some physicality, versatility on the defensive end and a connector offensively,” Johnson said. “Just trying to help everybody get to their spots, not try to force anything, being a great teammate.
“I think the second effort, second, third, fourth effort, that’s a winner’s trait. Just showing you I’ll do anything to win, multiple efforts, not just trying it one time and giving in. Just keep showing effort and being resilient.”
Chris Cenac Jr., Morez Johnson Jr. detail mindset entering 2026 NBA Draft | NBC Sports Bay Area
NBA News:
Sources: Darryn Peterson visits Wizards, won’t meet other teams | ESPN
Although Peterson does not plan to visit Utah before the draft, that is not considered by rival teams to be a major factor in whether the Jazz will select him. There is precedent for that thinking, as general manager Austin Ainge selected Ace Bailey fifth overall last year despite Bailey’s camp electing not to work out there.
Bulls announce former Trail Blazers Interim coach Tiago Splitter as the team’s next head coach
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Yaxel Lendeborg says it would be ‘amazing’ to play with Steph Curry
It’s easy to understand why the idea appeals to Lendeborg. Curry’s constant movement and ability to draw multiple defenders have created countless easy opportunities for teammates throughout his career. For a versatile forward like Lendeborg, who thrives as a connective piece on both ends of the floor, those extra pockets of space could help elevate his game even further at the next level.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
