NBA Mock Draft: Lendeborg, Ament taken in top 15
Pierre Andresen and Producer Christian run through picks 11-16 in their 2026 NBA Mock Draft, where Yaxel Lendeborg and Dailyn Swain go higher than expected, Nate Ament lands in Charlotte and the Bulls make another pick.
Video Transcript
So at 11 with the Warriors, so this is interesting.
I think if Yaksel doesn't go here or to OKC, there's a world where he could really slip in this draft.
but I think Golden State, y- you have to respect Steph Curry, and I You know, there's the rumor of could LeBron James end up there- Mm-hmm or could they try to get Kawhi?
But I just think Yaksel, the, the progression he showed a- at Michigan to be so defensively versatile, to be such a knockdown three-point shooter, there was a weird This, his season was the same.
He shot the three unbelievable at the beginning and the end.
In the middle was bad, but I still believe in his three-point shot.
I honestly, I think the biggest thing with him is just the, the maturity, because obviously he was a winner, and, like, figured out the work ethic and everything, but still just kinda, like, said some weird stuff in press conferences and had some, had some strange moments.
And I just think as long as he can understand what it takes to, to be a pro, and I think putting him right in a win-now situation, would be great for him, and he could be super, super impactful, so taking Yaksel here to the Warriors.
Super surprised with that.
I thought he was gonna fall in our mock.
That's a tough spot for me.
I was looking through the draft yesterday when I knew we were doing this, and I was anticipa- like, if I had the Warriors, what would I do?
I think I maybe had them taking some type of front court player, like a Marez Johnson or a Quaintance or anything like that.
but I'm, I'm not mad at Yaksel.
Here at 12 is the toughest team, I think, to prep for in all of this, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
So many rumors that they wanna package 12 and 17 and move up, 'cause they really can't afford to bring in two, two first-round picks from roster size and even money wise.
It just doesn't make sense for them.
But we're gonna, we're gonna draft here for them.
a team that has everything.
Yeah, right?
They have front court players.
I don't know what they're gonna do with Iheart.
it makes sense to bring him back though.
You have Thomas Sober in the wings.
You have, Topitch in the wings.
A lot of the signs point to them maybe doing something where Aaron Wiggins gets traded, Isaiah Joe gets moved.
So because of that and because I know how smart Sam Presti is, I'm actually going to take Oh, man.
I thought you froze.
Dalyn Swain.
Dalyn Swain, man.
Dalyn Swain, wow.
Dalyn Swain gets, gets drafted a lot earlier than projected, because it's OKC.
Because it's OKC.
It's I, I was stuck there 'cause it's, it's Nate Mint with the 6'10" and the shooting, but I think Dalyn Swain, i- i- it, he just, he gives you a, a, a bit more of what I think OKC embodies.
Obviously, you would love to have him turn into some knockdown shooter.
But I think with the way that they develop, it's not out of the realm of possibility that he can, you know, develop into a really steady three-and-D wing, on a competitive OKC team.
I love it.
I was eyeing him here, but instead the Miami Heat, a- and in this world they have Giannis and Bam, and why not add another front court monster defender in Marez Johnson, our third Michigan front court player in the draft.
just the motor, the, the defensive skill, and I think he's even a little underrated with, his touch around the basket in, in the extra possessions he creates on the offensive glass.
I think Marez, learning from Bam and Giannis could make him just an all-league type defender.
A, on the clock, a team that we are very close and familiar with, the Charlotte Hornets, who I'm super excited for them, just because I loved everything that they did last year at the draft, and to see it pay off for them and for them to have the year that they had.
I think they can just continue to double down, on talent.
So we know they, they took, Calk Brenner.
They took, Con Knipple and Sion James.
so you're talking about Lamelo.
You're talking about Con, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and there's been rumors that they could even be in the Som- Sabonis market.
So because of that, it puts me in a tough space.
I like Steinbach here a lot, but if you're gonna go out and get Sabonis, I think that would be a bit much.
you know I love LeBaron Phylon right now on the board.
But ultimately, I am gonna give them Nate Mint.
I'ma give them Nate Mint.
more size, more shooting, more versatility.
I think that's the direction that they are headed into.
and I, I know a lot of people are trying to compare him to, to Zachary Richea.
I wanna say this.
I think Zachary Richea is a really good player if you got him at 14.
I think people have the things and the notions that they say about him because he was the fourth overall.
F- first overall pick, excuse me.
But I don't, I don't really deter from Nate Mint because of the Richea, comps.
Because honestly speaking, again, if Richea was at 14, I think the, the way that he's viewed is completely different.
All right.
With the Bulls, I'm gonna take a guy who I'm lower than consensus on, but I think this is something that would make sense for their timeline, and that's Jayden Quaintance.
I- I think the number one concern with him is- The knee his injury stuff.
He's, like, he's just not playing.
He just hasn't, didn't play much college basketball.
I think he's pretty raw offensively, but there's just some absolutely absurd, defensive tape out there from him.
And look, the Bulls are finally, finally have some direction.
Like, they're gonna be bad next year.
So if Jayden Quain doesn't play next year, like I'm, I'm fine with that.
Like, let him, let him get healthy.
Let him learn how to be a pro and, you know, get him and Caleb and, and Madison and two more first-round picks next year, and then actually have something to be excited about in Chicago.
They haven't had a real big man in, in a long time.
I don't mean to disrespect Vooch, but, like, in terms of just, like, a, a defensive, real, real piece there in the middle.
So JQ to the Bulls.
I love it.
Two front court players.
we're back with the Grizzlies on the clock, who took Cam Boozer with the third pick.
Back-to-back teams, with back-to-back, first-round picks.
This a tough spot for me, just because again, we don't know what's going on with Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies are a team that I think have a lot of talent.
Zach Eady, Boozer, Coward, Wells, Scottie Pippen Jr., Ja Morant.
They still got GG Jackson, Santi Aldama.
Like, they have a lot going on.
even my, my guy Javon Small.
I feel like I'm s- I'm even still forgetting somebody.
Spencer showed some, some, some, some things.
With all of that being said though- Ty Jerome Ty, my, my boy Ty Jerome, who had a really injured riddled season, but I'm excited to see him back.
I'm gonna go, oh man, I'm gonna go Cam Carr for the Grizzlies.
He just, I, I don't know, something about him feels very Grizzly-esque.
give them some type of scoring.
You know, a lot of the guys that they have are some really well-rounded guys, some, some, some good, defensive-minded guy.
They need a guy that can just try to be a microwave scorer a- and be aggressive.
but again, it's, it's really tough to know, 'cause, like, if you're trading Ja Morant, I maybe have taken LeBaron Viola.
I don't know.
but until we get that Ja trade, I think Cam Carr is the guy for me there.
I, I'm loving the way that this mock is going by the way, because it feels like outside of the Grizzlies, we've both been able to draft for both teams.
So like, the Bulls had two picks.
I pick one, you pick one.
Now you're on the clock with the, Thunder after I picked for them at 12, so it's going perfectly
