Mike Dunleavy and Joe Lacob didn't look like they were on the same page when it came to Golden State's first-round pick.
The Golden State Warriors seem to have struck it rich by drafting Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th-overall pick, but that might not be the consensus among the Warriors front office itself.
Lendeborg was reportedly the Warriors' option still available to them when it came their time to make a selection and looking at his profile as a physical big man with leadership experience at Michigan during his senior season and a wealth of time played in college that should lead him to a fast start on a NBA court, Lendeborg looks to be the best option for the Warriors.
Yet, after Lendeborg heard his name called, a live camera feed inside the Golden State command room captured a seemingly tense squabble between Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob, who has typically taken a hands-on approach as an owner for both the Warriors and their WNBA counterpart the Golden State Valkyries.
What Happened Between Dunleavy and Lacob?
Dunleavy dismissed the tension with a joke when asked about the moment by reporters and added that the Warriors were confident that they would pick an impactful player no matter who was still available at their point of the draft due to the talent available.
“Yeah, we got into it about best golf course in San Francisco. He didn't agree with me, which you know it's all in the eye to beholder," Dunleavy said (via Kenzo Fukuda). "The other guy that he brought up, the other player, like, this is a really strong draft. So, I felt like once we got to 9, 10, 11, we were gonna be anxious to see who falls there, but we felt like at 11, no matter what happened, we were gonna get a good player."
Dunleavy's explanation after his quip about gold courses is an ambiguous statement at best, but it trends toward an idea that he and Lacob may have disagreed about who exactly to select with their pick.
Other Options for Golden State
There were several notable players drafted after Lendeborg, including Michigan center Aday Mara at 12th-overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mara was often attached as a possible target for the Warriors considering their need for size.
Nate Ament, another notable forward, was picked at 13 by the Milwaukee Bucks with the Miami Heat's pick and he's another name that could have caused friction between owner and general manager.
As Dunleavy, any one of those three players would have been an excellent pickup for the Warriors and the final decision seems to have come down to Lendeborg's perceived readiness to contribute at a high level and no matter how much tension the pick may have caused in the room, Lendeborg is a Warriors, at least for now.
