Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan - 2026 NBA Draft - Lottery pick

Chuck Everett · Post #41 » by **Chuck Everett** » Tue Mar 3, 2026 6:45 pm

tmorgan wrote:
Chuck Everett wrote:Him being afraid to come to the NBA probably was a redflag to a lot of scouts. He should be picked in the back-half of the first round at best. The reality of him is that he needs to come in and be an instant contributor/rotation player for any NBA team. And if you don't think he's that or he needs a little seasoning, then it makes no sense to select him in the first round. There's no upside to developing a 24 year old rookie.

That sounds like a textbook 2nd round pick to me.

I don’t think this “afraid” line of thinking is accurate in the current college financial world.

Yaxel was projected as very late 1st rounder last year coming out of UAB, with no guarantee he’d get picked in the first. Michigan offered him a NIL package estimated to be above 2 million dollars plus the opportunity to get somewhat featured and raise his draft stock. Once Danny Wolf officially declared, leaving available the “point big” role that Dusty May likes, it was pretty much a no-brainer to withdraw from the draft.

I don’t see that as fear, I see it as betting on himself to play well on a bigger stage, which he mostly has done.

I'm not dinging Yaxel for taking the money. I am well aware of who he was coming out of JUCO. He probably should have left UAB after year 1 for the NBA. He chose taking the guaranteed money, but it appears doubtful he's going to be rewarded for doing so in the upcoming NBA draft. He's going to fall because he's legitimately old. It honestly doesn't matter what he does in the tournament.

TB · Post #42 » by TB » Thu Mar 5, 2026 5:38 pm

This guy has made incredible business moves for a three year JUCO with NBA potential. Went to a school to get his numbers. Very easily could have slipped into 2nd round and be dealing with 2way contract scenarios, instead he’s banking a couple million and likely locking in a guaranteed contract.

If there is potential to get exposed and flame out in the NBA, he is going to be able to take a private jet to his first European club.

azcatz11 · Post #43 » by **azcatz11** » Wed Mar 11, 2026 2:56 am

I’m getting Derrick Williams vibes without the athleticism. Similar body and streaky 3 point shooter.

azcatz11 · Post #44 » by **azcatz11** » Sat Mar 21, 2026 8:22 pm

Great college player but I can’t get past how slow laterally he is. His hips are just so stiff he’s not a fluid athlete. I think he’s a worse version of Rui in the nba

sisibilio · Post #45 » by **sisibilio** » Sat Mar 21, 2026 9:27 pm

I think his bbIQ is significantly higher than Williams, he'll find a way to be productive even if his upside is limited.

Upperclass · Post #46 » by **Upperclass** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 3:18 am

Sochan is barely an NBA player and they play the exact same

Chuck Everett · Post #47 » by **Chuck Everett** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 4:33 am

Upperclass wrote:Sochan is barely an NBA player and they play the exact same

Yaxel at least is comfortable taking jump shots, if left alone. Sochan spends more time on his hair color than working on his game.

I may personally think he's too old to go high in the draft, however, I absolutely believe he is a first round pick. I just think it can't be to a team that is truly rebuilding.

CptCrunch · Post #48 » by **CptCrunch** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 4:49 am

Someone explain Yaxel to me?

Why wasn't Yaxel on the radar last year, he was a 22 year old, turns 23 at start of season 5th year player at UAB putting up great advanced stats.

Why did it take a season at Michigan to make him rise?

2weekswithpay · Post #49 » by **2weekswithpay** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 5:02 am

CptCrunch wrote:Someone explain Yaxel to me?

Why wasn't Yaxel on the radar last year, he was a 22 year old, turns 23 at start of season 5th year player at UAB putting up great advanced stats.

Why did it take a season at Michigan to make him rise?

He was on the radar. I think the competition may have made teams hesitant to draft him in the first, but he certainly was getting buzz throughout the draft process.

MotownMadness · Post #50 » by **MotownMadness** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 11:45 am

Chuck Everett wrote:
Upperclass wrote:Sochan is barely an NBA player and they play the exact same

Yaxel at least is comfortable taking jump shots, if left alone. Sochan spends more time on his hair color than working on his game.

I may personally think he's too old to go high in the draft, however, I absolutely believe he is a first round pick. I just think it can't be to a team that is truly rebuilding.

He would be a great fit for the Pistons and fits right in age wise with the core.

We have a swap with the Wolves in the 1st round hopefully close to pick 20 but not sure if he last that long.

azcatz11 · Post #51 » by **azcatz11** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 3:20 pm

CptCrunch wrote:Someone explain Yaxel to me?

Why wasn't Yaxel on the radar last year, he was a 22 year old, turns 23 at start of season 5th year player at UAB putting up great advanced stats.

Why did it take a season at Michigan to make him rise?

Because no one cares about UAB and it’s Michigan. You obviously know the answer to that

tmorgan · Post #52 » by **tmorgan** » Sun Mar 22, 2026 11:48 pm

azcatz11 wrote:
CptCrunch wrote:Someone explain Yaxel to me?

Why wasn't Yaxel on the radar last year, he was a 22 year old, turns 23 at start of season 5th year player at UAB putting up great advanced stats.

Why did it take a season at Michigan to make him rise?

Because no one cares about UAB and it’s Michigan. You obviously know the answer to that

It’s pretty well known he wanted a first round promise to stay in the draft last year and he didn’t get one. So he took 2m in NIL money from a major program and played another year. His age is a big concern, but his draft stock still looks higher this year in a much better draft, so it seems like he made the right choice.

I don’t think anyone sees a future All-Star in Yax. Just a solid, well-rounded player ready to step in and contribute. He’ll improve some as he learns the league. He might end up an average-level starter for five years if things go well. What’s that worth?

If Detroit can get him with Minnesota’s pick, it seems like a good fit and opportunity. I still think he goes before then, though.

QMemphis · Post #53 » by **QMemphis** » Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:25 am

Thunder or Spurs make too much sense for him giving they both need a big wing 4/3.

BlazersBroncos · Post #54 » by **BlazersBroncos** » Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:26 am

Have him right between PJ Washington and Grant Williams as a project.

Not as bouncy as PJ, not as thicc (And unathletic) as Grant. Should be a really good role player that can contribute in a ton of ways to a good team - but he isn’t a Top-4 (Maybe even Top-5) rotation guy on a winning team. Which isn’t to say he isn’t worth a slot in the high 20’s. Or even higher for a winning team owns a bad teams pick (OKC).

tmorgan · Post #55 » by **tmorgan** » Mon Mar 23, 2026 3:52 am

QMemphis wrote:Thunder or Spurs make too much sense for him giving they both need a big wing 4/3.

Given his unimpressive quickness on the perimeter on D, I think Lendeborg is more of a 4/undersized 5 in the NBA.

Actually, I’d never thought of this before, but he kinda reminds me of a different Piston. I’ve always thought Tobias Harris, but young Tobi was a better athlete than Yax and was definitely a 3/4 type. Maybe he’s more like the greatly under-appreciated Paul Reed? Quicker than his matchups, has a lot of skills, produces when he plays, but has for whatever reason never earned a full-time role. For Reed, a lot of that is an excessive foul rate.

DoubleLintendre · Post #56 » by **DoubleLintendre** » Fri Mar 27, 2026 6:33 am

Intriguing player. He's more athletic than he's profiled as-- he's got more hang-time and fluidity than I expected from reading reports. I see stronger & quicker Kyle Anderson with more aggressive scoring tendencies.

tmorgan · Post #57 » by **tmorgan** » Sat Mar 28, 2026 2:01 am

Yaxel balled out against Alabama. I normally say “I like that kid”, because I’m an old man these days, but it feels wrong for Yax. I like that guy.

tmorgan · Post #58 » by **tmorgan** » Sat Mar 28, 2026 9:39 am

For you crazy NBA2k aficionados like me, Yaxel has just about the best MyTeam card in the entire game right now. Just came out on Friday. SF/SG eligible (which is goofy as hell), fastest shot in the game, 100 overall rating. Total cheeseball.

JMAC3 · Post #59 » by **JMAC3** » Sat Mar 28, 2026 1:49 pm

How he shoots it in workouts will probably determine his ceiling, him ending the year on a heater from deep though is helping his draft stock.

I am not a huge believer in him longterm but if people want to look really sharp for the first two months of the year they should have him top 5 and demand crow to be eaten early.

CptCrunch · Post #60 » by **CptCrunch** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 12:10 am

JMAC3 wrote:How he shoots it in workouts will probably determine his ceiling, him ending the year on a heater from deep though is helping his draft stock.

I am not a huge believer in him longterm but if people want to look really sharp for the first two months of the year they should have him top 5 and demand crow to be eaten early.

This

He shoots light out, guarantees a floor of 20th pick; that's it. Shoots like crap, who knows. People might decide he is not going to do much in the NBA.

How high will Lendeborg be picked in the 2026 NBA Draft?