The Warriors have a decision to make, and they need to make it soon. They’ve yet to decide whether to develop the No. 11 pick or include it in a trade package for another star. To avoid the latter, the front office has already stated that it is looking for a high-IQ, plug-and-play option. With that in mind, the Dubs brought in six prospects for a pre-draft workout on Thursday afternoon at Chase Center, and one of them was an NCAA champion with the Michigan Wolverines.

Yaxel Lendeborg spoke to the media and discussed the skill set he would bring to the Warriors if drafted.

“There’s so much gravity on the court that it really makes it super easy for other guys to score or other guys to just showcase any ability that they have,” Lendeborg said. “I’ve been having so many arguments going against that when I was young with my best friend. Now, if I’ll be able to play with him [Stephen Curry], it’ll be kind of funny being on the other end, but I’ll be very excited to get the opportunity.”

Many fans and analysts have been claiming that the 23-year-old is the best fit for the Warriors. And finally, Lendeborg had the workout to showcase his skills. He even added that, so far, he has met Stephen Curry twice and that if they team up, he is ready to “learn a lot playing with him.” In fact, he even spoke about his role in the Golden State lineup when the four-time NBA champion is not on the floor.

“Like five assists in a game, maybe to start off, just a lot of defense, fast-break kind of bucket opportunities for me,” Lendeborg said. “Depending on if I’m here or anywhere else, my role will be a lot different. But if I were here, I would be more like a secondary ball handler. Whenever Steph is taking up the game, I’ll be there to assist, maybe provide a little bit more offense or instant offense in a way.”

A secondary ball handler who can defend positions 1 through 5 is exactly what the Warriors fan base wants. Lendeborg’s admission proves he knows the task without Curry will be difficult. In his off minutes and extended injury absences, the team sputtered to a miserable 13-26 mark, proving they couldn’t survive without the Chef. The non-Curry lineups routinely suffered from stagnant possessions and elevated turnover rates. But that’s where the Big Ten Player of the Year fits in.

At Michigan, he averaged 3.2 assists per game. He excels at catching the ball on short rolls out of the pick-and-roll, reading the floor, and passing out to cutters or spot-up shooters, the exact fundamental driver behind Steve Kerr’s motion-heavy offense. Lendeborg has also evolved into a legitimate floor-spacer. He knocked down 37.2% of his three-pointers on 4.5 attempts per game during his final year at Michigan.

The 6-foot-9 star with a massive 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 241-pound frame is a lethal defensive Swiss Army knife who can seamlessly share the court with Draymond Green or even act as his long-term successor.

One concerning factor emerges in the Warriors’ pursuit

The 23-year-old forward was one of the driving forces behind the Wolverines’ dominant title run, gaining the experience and credentials that the Warriors have long valued. In fact, his teammate Nimari Burnett gave him the nickname “Bron” during March Madness after a coast-to-coast poster dunk.

“Dominican LeBron. It’s as simple as those two words. Just his aggression going to the basket,” Burnett said.

Similar to LeBron James, age remains a key factor in Yaxel Lendeborg’s evaluation. He will be 24 by the time the NBA kicks off.

“If the mantra is we’re going to try to run this back and try one more time, which is a perfectly reasonable decision to make, to me, Lendeborg is the guy to take,” David Aldridge said on the Warriors Plus Minus podcast. “He’s going to come in and play immediately because he knows how to play. And he’s strong like seniors are when they get four years in the weight room.”

So, now the draft remains one of the real possibilities of rebuilding, especially from a class that’s as deep as the current crop. Due to the age factor, some argue the Warriors should trade the pick for a veteran or draft a higher-upside wing like Brayden Burries or Cameron Carr. For Lendeborg, the opportunity feels like a perfect fit. But Golden State also had workouts with Drake Allen (Utah State), Kylan Boswell (Illinois), Meechie Johnson (South Carolina), Malik Dia (Ole Miss), and Felix Okpara (Tennessee). Plus, the Warriors will hold workouts for other prospects next week.