The Golden State Warriors are staring down a rocky, injury-plagued season that has them firmly planted in the Western Conference play-in scramble. Currently mired in a four-game losing streak with a 32-34 record, they sit ninth in the standings — just a half-game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Yet amid the turbulence, a massive silver lining has emerged: the Warriors are now perfectly positioned to secure a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, opening the door to a transformative addition that could reshape their future.
In a stunning development that has NBA circles buzzing, Golden State appears set to land one of the draft’s most explosive perimeter talents — UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins, widely regarded as an elite three-point shooter with the exact skill set needed for the post-Steph Curry era.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently voiced strong confidence in the team’s war chest of assets, highlighting control of four first-round picks plus multiple pick swaps across the next seven years. That draft capital, combined with flexible mid-sized contracts (the $18 million pairing of Moses Moody and Brandin Podziemski) and potential sign-and-trade scenarios involving Kristaps Porzingis, gives Golden State immense leverage.
While the front office will certainly keep tabs on any Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes this summer, insiders say the real bombshell path forward lies in the draft. That high-value pick could deliver young, cost-controlled firepower to support the franchise long after Curry’s legendary run ends.
ESPN’s latest mock draft has the Warriors selecting Mullins at No. 13 overall — and the fit is nothing short of electric.
In 26 games this season, the 19-year-old has posted 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steal, and nearly a block per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and a scorching 34.9% from three on 6.5 attempts per night. He’s already exploded for 25 points (including six threes) against Creighton and dropped 24 efficient points (6-of-10 from deep) versus Providence.
ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo captured the excitement perfectly: “Mullins has an interesting stay-or-go case this spring… 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.”
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has repeatedly mocked Mullins to Golden State as well, underscoring how seamlessly the freshman aligns with the Warriors’ DNA — a floor-spacing guard who moves without the ball, thrives in motion offenses, and stretches defenses to the breaking point.
NBA Draft Room goes even further, calling Mullins “an elite three-point shooter with a lightning-quick release and deadly accuracy from downtown… he clearly looks like a high-level NBA two-guard.”
For a Warriors team fighting to stay competitive in the present while quietly building for tomorrow, Mullins represents the ultimate two-way win: immediate shooting punch to help now, plus franchise-altering upside to lead the next era once Curry’s chapter closes.
If the projections hold, Golden State is about to drop a true bombshell on the league — landing the elite three-point sniper who could finally bridge the Curry dynasty to the next golden age in the Bay.