Yaxel Lendeborg has given the Golden State Warriors exactly what they hoped for on offense this preseason, and then some. The 11th overall pick has looked like a real part of the answer on that side of the floor.
The same can’t be said defensively, where there’s still a lot of work to do. Even so, that’s hardly the biggest problem facing Golden State as opening night approaches.
The Warriors’ offensive issues are still staring them in the face. Preseason or not, they’ve checked in 20th offensively, which is exactly where they finished last season. The ball security has been ugly too, with Golden State turning it over 20.4 times per game, nearly five more than last year, when they were third-most in the league.
With Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis out, there isn’t much room for mistakes on that end. That has to be the main focus for Steve Kerr and his staff before the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.
There were some ugly moments on defense in Tuesday’s preseason game against the Lakers, especially in the first half against Austin Reaves. But that should get better once Draymond Green and Al Horford are back in the mix after both sat out in Las Vegas.
Lendeborg should also benefit from having at least one of those veterans next to him. Right now, the 24-year-old has looked shaky on defense, with the same kinds of issues that showed up in summer league. He has flashed excellent offensive impact, but his effort on defense has been inconsistent enough to stand out when the focus shifts there.
At the moment, the concern is that he doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stay with guards or most wings, and he’s not yet using his size and wingspan consistently as a rim protector. He has been physical and effective offensively, but that same edge hasn’t translated cleanly to the defensive interior, aside from his rebounding. That becomes even more of a problem with Porzingis sidelined and the 6'9" forward being asked to handle some small-ball five duties.
Still, Lendeborg deserves some patience on that side. The Warriors are leaning on him heavily on offense, and he’s already become their second go-to option with Butler and Porzingis unavailable. He has led the team in scoring so far in preseason.
Plenty of stars around the league take a little off on defense when they’re carrying the offense. Lendeborg isn’t there yet, but the level of responsibility he already has helps explain why the Warriors can live with some growing pains.
For Golden State, there are much bigger concerns than Lendeborg’s defense heading into the season. And right now, he still looks like the most exciting part of a team that appears headed for the Play-In again.
In Other News...
Warriors Suddenly Have A Yaxel Lendeborg Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Warriors got a scare in their preseason win over the Lakers when Yaxel Lendeborg turned his ankle, a moment that briefly put a spotlight on one of the more intriguing parts of their early lineup plans. He did return to the game for a short stretch, and afterward he downplayed the issue, calling it not severe and sounding upbeat about where he stands heading into the next stage of camp.
Still, it is the kind of injury moment Golden State cannot afford to brush aside, especially with the team weighing whether Lendeborg could start and trying to manage other banged-up players as the regular season approaches. Preseason results matter less than availability this time of year, and the Warriors will be watching closely to see whether the ankle shows any lingering effect as they keep sorting out the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Tough Roster Call Fans Will Debate
The Warriors made a notable tweak to their roster mix, waiving guard Miles Kelly and signing free agent forward Tyler Burton, according to an official team statement. Kelly had turned in a strong preseason, which makes the decision a little harder to ignore, but Golden State opted to open a spot for a different kind of look as it continues sorting through the edges of the roster.
Burton arrives with some recent NBA experience after previously spending time with the Memphis Grizzlies on 10-day contracts, and hell get a chance to compete for a place with the Warriors in mid-October. For a team still shaping its final group, the move is another reminder that preseason production does not always guarantee a lasting seat at the table. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Created An Early Center Battle Fans Did Not Expect
Draymond Green sitting out the preseason game against the Lakers opened a small window into something the Warriors may not have fully planned for when camp began. Charles Bassey got the start at center over Al Horford, and it was hard not to notice the way the younger big has been pushing himself into the conversation after a strong preseason run compared with Horford and Graham Ike.
Bassey signed a partially guaranteed one-year deal, so nothing about his roster spot or role is locked in yet, but his defensive value matters more now with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable indefinitely. For a team still sorting out its frontcourt rotation, the early signs suggest this center competition may be more open than expected, and Bassey has done enough to make the Warriors keep looking his way. [Read more 🡒]