Spurs can ruin Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg draft hopes with a page from NFL's book

One of the NBA's worst-kept secrets right now is how interested the Warriors are in Yaxel Lendeborg. Senior draft prospects aren't as highly coveted these days, but the Michigan forward fits what they need for one last Steph Curry hurrah while simultaneously helping them retool for the future.

But Lendeborg would also fit the Spurs like a glove, and the Silver and Black should do everything in their power to land him. That could mean making significant deals with a rival or depleting real assets, but that's what they do in the NFL, and the rewards can be massive.

In 2021, the Dallas Cowboys traded two spots down with their hated rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Birds drafted the receiver they wanted, and they're thrilled with that decision. In 2017, the Chiefs traded a haul to move from the 27th spot to the 6th for the rights to draft Patrick Mahomes.

They have zero regrets, but many believed they overpaid at the time. However, as NFL franchises understand, once you feel like your guy is on the board, you should do everything you can to get him, including overpaying. SA could and should do that to get the final piece to their championship puzzle and kick off the next dynasty.

Spurs have assets to chase Lendeborg and keep their future intact

San Antonio has first-round and second-round picks galore, so there shouldn't be too much of an issue with using them, because why else do you have them? The Silver and Black don't have any true glaring weaknesses. They finished the season with an elite offense and a terrifying defense that led them to an NBA Finals way before anyone believed they would be ready.

That's an indication to go all-in, but the Spurs are loaded with so many assets that they could offer a group of them to the Dallas Mavericks (9th) or the Milwaukee Bucks (10th) to leapfrog the Warriors (11). Give up the 20th and 35th picks this year and throw in Atlanta's 2027 first-rounder and Dallas' 2030 first-rounder that San Antonio has via swap. Some variation of this deal may move the needle.

If there were one thing most fans would agree on, it's that the team could use a little more size and versatility at the power forward position. Julian Champagnie did a fantastic job, and at 24 years old, he's only going to get better. If they were to stand pat, it wouldn't be the end of the world. However, adding a blue-chip talent like Yaxel to the equation would be a hell of a get.

The reigning NCAA champion forward can defend smaller players on switches, he has a versatile offensive game, and he doesn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact. Rolling out a starting lineup of De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Victor Wembanyama would be devastating for the league.

The Spurs would be set for the next 4-5 years. Fox would go after a couple of years, and Harper would slide right into his spot to keep the ball rolling. Who cares what the Warriors did after that, quite honestly? But it's always good to stick it to the franchise that won a championship off the strength of a Kawhi Leonard injury way back when.

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