Of the players the LA Clippers have worked out for the 2026 NBA Draft, there is one outlier: Yaxel Lendeborg, the superstar from Michigan. He is projected by many to fall in the tail end of the lottery, primarily because of the fact that he’s already 23 years old, far after where the Clippers are currently selecting. This suggests the front office may be considering trading down to snag Lendeborg at a reasonable spot.
Additionally, in the same breath, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports reported that the Clippers are hearing offers for their highly coveted fifth-overall pick.
This is major news for Clipper Nation, and while some may be opposed to missing out on a prospect like Keaton Wagler or Mikel Brown Jr., Lendeborg is well worth trading down for; had he been any younger, experts would have him in the consensus top-four.
Obtaining future draft capital and landing Lendeborg would be a dream
One of the only ways the LA Clippers actually agree to moving back in the 2026 Draft is if they remain in the lottery and gain a valuable pick, or multiple, for the future. Both conditions must be met, as they help the team in the long run and allow them to take Yaxel Lendeborg off the board.
Not much needs to be said about why the Clippers will require extra draft capital in offers on the table, but regarding Lendeborg, he’s one of the most talented players out of his entire class.
The guy has one of the most inspirational championship stories, and literally averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists for the Michigan Wolverines across 40 games, entered the March Madness Tournament, and elevated his game further than ever.
Beyond the traditional statistics, though, is the film, and ultimately the eye-test, which says that Lendeborg is perfect for a team trying to win-now, or one focused on a sped-up rebuild, like the Clippers.
He does all of the right things on both sides of the ball, is extremely athletic out of the frontcourt, and will immediately become a coach’s pet.
On top of that, Lendeborg's entering LA’s system provides the front office with a replacement for John Collins. This is huge, as it means the non-taxpayer mid-level exception can be spent elsewhere.
That said, there will be no complaining on draft night if the Clippers walk away with Lendeborg and add an asset in the coming years; in fact, there are probably just a few outcomes better than this.
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