Yaxel Lendeborg is already giving Warriors a good minutes problem to have
Whether rightly or wrongly, Steve Kerr has built a reputation for not trusting in younger players at the Golden State Warriors. However, based on the early impact from Yaxel Lendeborg, the minutes problem may go the other way when it comes to the 11th overall pick.
Lendeborg already looks like one of the Warriors' best and most important players, and his versatility leaves Kerr weighing up what lineups to place him in as the team looks to build chemistry and find the kind of continuity they've struggled with in recent seasons.
Steve Kerr might struggle to bring Yaxel Lendeborg off the floor
Lendeborg's combination of size and skillset is rare within itself, but particularly for Golden State who are currently hit with the absence of Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porzingis. The 24-year-old can is primarily a power forward, but has the skillset to play the three and the size to play some small-ball five.
Kerr has already stated that he can essentially play Lendeborg in any position. There has to be a temptation therefore to play the rookie for not just 30+ minutes but even 35 minutes, with his form and impact in preseason likely making it difficult for the head coach to leave him off the floor.
But Golden State have to be careful. As an older rookie with extensive college experience, Lendeborg is perhaps better placed than most to make it through the long and often arduous 82-game regular season. Yet the idea of the 'rookie wall' is real, and the Warriors have to find a balance between leaning on Lendeborg while also not overburdening a young player to the point where his performance dips as the season progresses.
Will Richard had the benefit of significant college experience as an older rookie last year, but that didn't particularly help him as the young guard really struggled after the All-Star break despite an incredibly positive start to the season.
Yaxel Lendeborg will get opportunity not afforded to recent lottery picks
Golden State still have hopes of making an impact in the playoffs, and managing a young player such as Lendeborg is just as important as managing veterans like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford who are obviously pivotal to their success.
Still, it's a completely different scenario to what recent Warrior lottery picks have experienced. Jonathan Kuminga's lack of playing time and role was a storyline for years, while even Moses Moody struggled to solidify a rotational role during his first few seasons.
Lendeborg won't have any such issues, and if anything it will be an issue of potentially playing the 6'9" forward too much and risking some burnout later in the season.
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