Three Best Big Men Warriors Could Take At No. 11 Overall Pick In 2026 Nba Draft

Three best big men Warriors could take at No. 11 overall pick in 2026 NBA Draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA is going big again, and the Warriors have taken notice. 

Signing stretch big man Al Horford was a top priority last offseason. The Warriors then brought in all 7 feet and 2 inches of his former Boston Celtics teammate Kristaps Porzingis at the NBA trade deadline. That kind of size is something Golden State has never seen before, and it certainly enjoyed the idea of it. 

But Porzingis now is an unrestricted free agent. Horford turned 40 years old on June 3 and has a $6 million player option. Draymond Green has a much more expensive player option at $27.6 million. The Warriors also hold a $2 million team option on Quinten Post after two seasons as a former second-round pick. 

Looking to the frontcourt could be a priority for the Warriors this offseason, starting with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

These are the three best options for the Warriors to consider.

Aday Mara, C, Michigan

Might as well start as big as we can go. Literally. Mara measured in at 7-foot-3 barefoot at the combine and 260 pounds with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 9-foot-9 standing reach. 

He then moved well for someone that big, helping answer questions about whether Mara can guard in open space at the next level. For the champions in his one season at Michigan, Mara was a shot-blocking machine, swatting 2.6 shots per game. Mara played his best during March Madness when he had five multi-block games, including two three-block games and one four-block game. 

The intriguing part of Mara’s game beyond taking up so much space defensively is his vision offensively. While his offensive game might be seen as limited right now, he’s an elite passing big man, which always is going to be music to Steve Kerr’s ears. 

Mara is one of the draft’s bigger wild cards, and he would change plenty about the Warriors. 

Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan 

Next up is someone who was a huge help to Mara in Michigan’s frontcourt. Mara is passing to Johnson in the first three clips above, either cutting, making a move in the post or soaring to slam an alley-oop. Defensively, Johnson’s relentless motor and versatility made life much easier for Mara, too. 

That’s where Johnson would immediately enhance the Warriors. He brings a winning play style and an injection of badly needed athleticism. His tape does the talking, and Johnson only helped himself at the combine. Here’s a star who has awfully similar measurements to him: Bam Adebayo. 

Can Johnson develop his offensive game like Adebayo has? Shooting 78.2 percent from the free-throw line, and going 10 of 25 (40 percent) from the 3-point line in Big Ten play, is encouraging. 

Johnson can guard all three levels right now. He had 10 rebounds in the national championship game, five on offense and five on defense, as the rest of Michigan’s starting five combined for 13 total. The growth of his offense will just be a bonus on top. 

Hannes Steinbach, C/PF, Washington

After a proven track record internationally in Germany, Steinbach helped his case as a freshman at Washington. He was extremely efficient, averaging 18.5 points per game and hauling a nation-leading 11.8 rebounds per game. He might have the strongest hands in this year’s draft. That sentence alone should make Warriors fans happy. 

Steinbach has the size to play the 4 or the 5, and has the potential to stretch the floor. He shot 34 percent from three last season but also shot 75.9 percent on free throws and projects to be able to extend his range. And he also can run the floor well for his size. 

As a passer, Steinbach isn’t Mara. As a defender, he isn’t close to Johnson. But his offense might easily outweigh both those categories, and his rebounding, especially on the offensive glass, is another reason to believe. 

Statistically, Steinbach had one of the more productive freshman seasons in recent history. He’s just 20 years old and already has pro experience, giving him youth and maturity on his side.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast