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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr during a game against the Chicago Bulls in March 2026
The Golden State Warriors have endured an inconsistent, injury-hit campaign and now find themselves firmly in the Western Conference play-in race.
Currently riding a four-game losing streak, the Warriors hold a 32-34 record and sit ninth in the standings, just half a game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers in 10th.
While the season has been turbulent, the difficult run could bring a silver lining. Golden State is currently positioned to land a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Golden State Warriors Weighing Draft and Trade Flexibility
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently expressed confidence in the franchise’s collection of assets, pointing to the team’s control of four first-round picks and multiple pick swaps over the next seven years.
Golden State also possesses several mid-sized contracts that could help facilitate trade discussions if the front office chooses to explore roster upgrades.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks has noted, the combined $18 million salaries of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski could be used in potential deals. Kristaps Porzingis could also become part of offseason maneuvering if he agrees to a sign-and-trade scenario.
While the Warriors are expected to monitor the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes this summer, that same draft capital could also provide another route forward by adding young, cost-controlled talent capable of supporting the franchise’s long-term plans.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo projected the Warriors selecting UConn guard Braylon Mullins with the 13th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
In 26 games this season, Mullins has averaged 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steal and just under a block per game.
He is shooting 44.2% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range on 6.5 attempts per contest.
“Mullins has an interesting stay-or-go case this spring, as a freshman with a lot of fans in NBA front offices, but one who could feasibly be selected higher next year,” Woo wrote. “A high-level perimeter shooter with positional size (6-6) and scoring instincts, some feel he’s capable of much more than he’s shown this season in a supporting role on an experienced UConn team.”
“He has good upside regardless and will be positioned to benefit from the March Madness spotlight if the Huskies make a deep run.”
Braylon Mullins Emerging as Potential Warriors Fit
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has also frequently linked Mullins to Golden State in his mock drafts, further highlighting the potential fit between the freshman guard and the Warriors’ system.
His profile closely aligns with the type of perimeter players Golden State has historically valued, guards who can stretch the floor, move well without the ball and thrive within a spacing-heavy offense.
The 19-year-old has surpassed the 20-point mark three times this season, including a career-high 25-point performance against Creighton in mid-February.
Although he shot 9-of-22 from the field in that game, Mullins showcased his perimeter shooting by knocking down six three-pointers while adding six rebounds, two steals and a block.
Another standout performance came in January, when he scored 24 points in a win over Providence, shooting an efficient 8-of-14 from the field and 6-of-10 from three-point range.
NBA Draft Room describes Mullins as “an elite three-point shooter with a lightening quick release and deadly accuracy from downtown… he clearly looks like a high level NBA two-guard.”
For a Golden State Warriors team attempting to remain competitive while also preparing for the future, a prospect like Mullins could represent the type of high-upside addition capable of strengthening the roster both now and into the post-Steph Curry era.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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