The Golden State Warriors made a necessary change that unlocked their championship potential when they benched David Lee in favor of Draymond Green. Over a decade later, however, Golden State appears to be looking for a Lee replacement on the offensive end of the floor. Yaxel Lendeborg may just be the answer.
It's only preseason, but Lendeborg is already showcasing an offensive skill set that the Warriors arguably haven't consistently had at an interior position since Lee left in 2015.
Green is an all-time great playmaker for a big man who helped run the team's offense with his high-post passing. In terms of scoring, however, he's always been more of a finisher than a creator, and hasn't exactly offered volume or efficiency with a career average of 8.7 points on .447/.321/.710 shooting.
Even still, his career-best average of 14.0 points per game is the highest a Warriors big man has managed while playing even just 40 games for the Warriors since Lee tallied 18.2 in 2013-14. Only Eric Paschall at 14.0 on a 15-50 side in 2019-20 has managed to match Green.
Golden State appears desperate to rectify this issue after trading for and then re-signing injury and illness-plagued big man Kristaps Porzingis. Considering Porzingis' health concerns and age at 31, it's fair to question how much the former All-Star can consistently manage.
Lendeborg, meanwhile, has turned his college basketball career, summer league, and the preseason into platforms for his tremendous all-around ability—including intriguing scoring potential.
Warriors haven't had a high-level scoring big since David Lee
Lendeborg has appeared in two of the Warriors' first three preseason games. He brought a Lee-like energy in the first, pulling down nine rebounds and dishing out three assists in just 19 minutes to overcome a poor shooting night in his professional debut.
The next time out, however, Lendeborg went full Lee with a near double-double that showcased his all-around scoring ability and how valuable he could quickly become to Golden State.
Lendeborg torched the Los Angeles Lakers for 17 points, nine rebounds, two offensive boards, two assists, and a block in 21 minutes. He shot 7-of-11 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and split a pair of free throws on a night during which he showed every facet of his scoring arsenal.
Beyond the numbers, Lendeborg showcased the versatility to impact the game as a scorer in a wide variety of manners.
Yaxel Lendeborg looks ready to stabilize Warriors' efforts to score inside
Lendeborg drove from well beyond the three-point line, fought through contact from 220-pound forward Adou Thiero, and calmy banked in an and-one opportunity on the move. He also drove baseline off of a Draymond Green pass for another contested finish off glass.
Lendeborg was then the focus of an in-bound play for another two, splashed a three off of a Green feed, created his own step-back trey, and went coast-to-coast for yet another contact finish.
Each time, Lendeborg showcased an ability to play both as a complementary piece and a focal point. He dribbled his way through strong defense, finished through contact, worked without the ball to get into the optimal location, and punished teams for questioning his range.
It's far too soon to know how Lendeborg's game will translate to a regular season or postseason setting, but from a pure skill perspective, he may be the answer to the Warriors' need to fill Lee's void 11 years later.
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