A day after the Las Vegas Summer League final, Golden State is counting minutes, not the trophy. Yaxel Lendeborg — tournament MVP and the No. 11 pick — is no longer a draft hope. He is a 2026-27 rotation candidate.
What Vegas showed
21 and 10 in the final against Memphis and a double-digit comeback make the highlight reel. The tournament averages matter more: roughly 15 points, seven boards and four assists. For a franchise that built around veterans, that is an argument for real October minutes.
What to watch before preseason
Next up: training camp and exhibition games. Lendeborg will compete for wing minutes and big-man help. Summer League does not guarantee a start, but after a title game and MVP, the coaching staff’s must-watch list got one name shorter.
