Jun 16, 2026 7:35 PM
The San Antonio Spurs will pick 20th in the 2026 NBA Draft, but their ideal player will likely be selected before that.
The San Antonio Spurs have lucked out plenty in the last three NBA Drafts, selecting Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. Wemby and Castle are easily the best players from their draft class, and while Harper likely lags behind Cooper Flagg, he was one of the best players in this year's NBA Finals.
With a title window open, the Spurs are going to look for win-now talent this offseason. With the 20th overall pick, finding a player who's ready to suit up, and maybe even ready to start, is never a guarantee.
However, Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg is the exception. Earlier in the draft process, he was expected to fall to around 20th overall, but after leading the Wolverines to a national title, his stock has skyrocketed.
The Spurs might have to trade up to get him.
Why Lendeborg Fits Spurs' Rotation
The Spurs, to put it simply, need a power forward. Wembanyama is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, but he frequently gets drawn to the perimeter on both ends of the floor. That versatility is what makes him elite, but San Antonio still needs a body down low while Wemby roams.
Lendeborg has an NBA-ready frame, was one of the best rebounders in the country before he transferred to Michigan, and can create for himself off the dribble and in the paint.
The only thing keeping him from being a top-five pick is his age. He's 23 years old and is rapidly approaching his ceiling. For lottery teams, that's bad news. For the Spurs, that could be a good thing.
"The Spurs should trade up for Yaxel Lendeborg," said Bryce Simon on the Athletic NBA Daily. "I feel like he can come in and immediately contribute to a team."
Simon suspects that the Golden State Warriors--picking 11th--will pick up Lendeborg. However, with teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks perhaps interested in trading back, the Spurs could strike a deal.
"I think he's a quick decision maker, he can do stuff off the bounce," Simon added. "Go watch his UAB film when he played even more as a primary creator than the role that he played with at Michigan. He can rebound...and he comes in a little bit older. And he is hopefully NBA-ready to contribute to a team that is really trying to win over the next few years."
If the Spurs stay at 20th, it's hard to imagine them selecting a player ready to impact winning in the way that Lendeborg is.
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