Could the Charlotte Hornets take Yaxel Lendeborg with the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft?
The Charlotte Hornets land a Michigan star in a new 2026 NBA mock draft.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report has the Hornets taking Yaxel Lendeborg with the 14th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
"The Hornets could see home-run potential here, Buckley wrote. "Not because Lendeborg's upside is particularly enormous—he'll turn 24 before he plays his first NBA minutes—but rather because he does so many things that could help this ascending team take the next step.
"In fact, he just did all of those things at such a high level that he just played a featured role in the Wolverines' march to the national championship. He's long, physical and athletic, plus skilled in just about every way. And since he's such a late-bloomer, he could have more growth potential than his biological clock suggests."
Lendeborg appeared in 40 games for Michigan this past season. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 51.5% from the field, 37.2% from beyond the arc and 82.4% from the free-throw line.
Lendeborg helped Michigan win the 2025-26 NCAA championship. He finished his college career with averages of 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game with UAB and Michigan. The swingman is a skilled scorer and shooter.
Here is what ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo wrote about Lendeborg while evaluating the forward: "Lendeborg is set to benefit from his instrumental role in Michigan's title run, where his versatility shone through on both sides of the ball. He'll be a 24-year-old rookie, a polarizing aspect of his projection, but he's ready for the NBA and should be a plug-and-play rotation piece. At a certain point in the draft, the value of his unique skill set outweighs the age factor."
The Hornets were one win away from making the playoffs this year for the first time since 2016. They have a bright future with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel leading the way.
If Charlotte decides to trade veteran Miles Bridges this summer, adding Lendeborg would be a huge win for the franchise.
Charlotte has two picks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. After selecting four rotation players a year ago, the Hornets have another opportunity to deepen their roster this year.
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