Steve Kerr has already confirmed that Yaxel Lendeborg will play a lot for the Golden State Warriors this season, but what exactly does that look like when six time All-Star Jimmy Butler returns from injury potentially in January?
Lendeborg’s early impression means the Warriors could have a logjam at the forward positions, leaving even more uncertainty over the futures of Butler and fellow veteran Draymond Green as they enter the season on expiring contracts.
Yaxel Lendeborg impact raises questions over veteran’s futures
A healthy Butler is clearly Golden State’s second best player, and Kerr wants to tie Green’s minutes to Stephen Curry and utilize the chemistry they’ve built together over the last 14 years. But Lendeborg is quite clearly a starting calibre player already, and also the future of the Warriors who is evidently generating the most excitement ahead of opening night in two weeks.
Can Golden State start all three together once Butler returns? Will they be forced to start small with Green at the five alongside Butler and Lendeborg? Could Butler slide down to the two and have the three together with a traditional center?
These are all questions for shortly down the track, but they are nevertheless ones the Warriors should already be thinking about as good problems to have thanks to Lendeborg’s early impact and production since the Warriors drafted him 11th overall.
Yaxel Lendeborg could force Warriors into mid-season trade
If Lendeborg is the player he’s already shown to be through summer league and his first two preseason games, that could force the front office into a tough conversation come February’s mid-season trade deadline. Would Golden State need to address that forward logjam, one that also features Gui Santos, and look at finding an alternative player in a position of need.
The center spot, for example, continues to face uncertainty given the latest health concern for Kristaps Porzingis, as well as the minute management of 40-year-old Al Horford. The Warriors could use Porzingis in the trade, but they may have to include one of Green or Butler as well to get a legitimate star, or at least a major upgrade at that position?
Lendeborg’s start to his Warrior career is raising plenty of excitement and optimism, but it’s also raising the possibility of difficult conversations in the coming months when it comes to the futures of Golden State’s veterans.
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