Warriors Predicted to Get Surprising First-Round Pick in NBA Mock Draft
At the start of the NBA season, the Golden State Warriors had an older roster, but one full of star power, including four-time NBA champions Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
They also had All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Al Horford, before adding another All-Star, Kristaps Porzingis, via trade. However, injuries quickly took a toll, including season-ending ones for Butler and Moses Moody.
With that, the banged-up Warriors were unable to win enough play-in tournament games to secure a playoff spot. Instead, they’re watching from home, and many questions are facing them in the offseason.
Part of their offseason will involve decisions about free agents and potential trades to try to help Curry win another championship, if possible. A recent mock draft revealed that the Warriors could get extremely lucky this offseason without making a trade, thanks to the NBA Draft lottery.
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According to Bleacher Report’s latest mock draft, fans shouldn’t completely rule out the Warriors landing the No. 1 pick in this June’s NBA Draft. While the odds aren’t in their favor statistically, they have a non-zero chance to get the top spot on the board.
With that, BR indicates they’d likely make the no-brainer choice: BYU’s talented player, AJ Dybantsa. The 6-foot-9 Cougars forward averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game with a 51 percent field goal shooting.
Debates have been ongoing over whether the top pick should be Dybantsa or Kansas standout Darryn Peterson. However, more recent mocks have listed Dybantsa there, with others contending it depends on which team lands that top pick.
Dybantsa would certainly give Golden State a valuable weapon on its roster, not only to help win now, but to become a cornerstone of the team’s future. It’s no secret that head coach Steve Kerr is contemplating his future with the team, and the window is closing for him, Curry, and Green to compete in the postseason.
While there are chances of them getting that top pick happening, they are extremely slim. ESPN’s draft percentages reveal the Warriors have a 2% chance of getting the 11th overall pick, which is just above the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets, two other teams that were in the play-in tournament.
It’s more likely the Warriors won’t get that pick and will instead pursue a blockbuster trade to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to their roster. The former NBA MVP and champion would become an immediate boost for the team, which might move multi-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, along with draft picks, in the deal.
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 7:01 PM.