The Golden State Warriors have a type. They love wings who can shoot, defend, and play without the ball. They love players with length, basketball IQ, and the ability to fit into Steve Kerr’s motion offense.
And right now, they have a glaring need for exactly that kind of player.
With Jimmy Butler recovering from a torn ACL and Moses Moody injured, the Warriors’ wing depth is threadbare. Kerr and Mike Dunleavy Jr. have mentioned it repeatedly: they need wings who can contribute immediately.
Enter Cameron Carr.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson, the Warriors are likely to select a wing with the No. 11 pick. Johnson originally had Yaxel Lendeborg going to Golden State. But after further evaluation, he’s changed his prediction to Carr.
And the comparison that makes this pick even more intriguing? Trey Murphy III.
Let me break down why Carr fits the Warriors, what his game looks like, and why he could be the steal of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Johnson Prediction: ‘The Perfect Balance’
Let me start with the expert analysis.
Dalton Johnson has covered the Warriors for years. He knows the team’s needs, its salary cap situation, and its draft philosophy. And he’s convinced that Carr is the right pick at No. 11.
Here’s what he wrote:
“Going with Carr might be the perfect balance of a player who can help now and projects major future upside. With his length and silky-smooth jumper, Carr can play shooting guard and small forward depending on who’s around him. The Baylor product can both splash threes as a great movement shooter and swat shots away as a two-way player for years to come.”
Let me translate that: Carr isn’t a project. He’s not a player who needs two years in the G League. He can help the Warriors immediately. But he also has the tools to grow into something more.
That’s exactly what the Warriors need.
The Carr Profile: What You’re Getting
Let me give you the scouting report.
Cameron Carr is a 6-foot-6 wing who played his first two seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Baylor for his junior year. In his first season with the Bears, he averaged:
18.9 points per game
5.8 rebounds
2.6 assists
1.3 blocks
Nearly 40% from three-point range on high volume
Those are not role-player numbers. Those are star-in-the-making numbers.
Carr has NBA bloodlines — his father, Chris Carr, played in the league. He’s got length, athleticism, and a silky-smooth jumper. He’s a movement shooter who can splash threes off screens, off the dribble, and in catch-and-shoot situations.
And on defense? He’s a two-way player. He blocks shots. He gets steals. He uses his length to disrupt passing lanes.
The Trey Murphy Comparison: Why It Fits
Let me talk about the comparison that has draft analysts buzzing.
Trey Murphy III is a 6-foot-8 wing who has become a key two-way player for the New Orleans Pelicans. He shoots threes, defends multiple positions, and plays without the ball. He’s exactly the kind of player every team wants.
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports made the comparison directly:
*“Carr led Baylor in scoring, shot nearly 40% from 3 on high volume, and looked like a 3-and-D role player who also has blossoming skills off the dribble. With NBA genes in his blood, as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it in the NBA.”*
O’Connor also mentioned Tim Hardaway Jr. as a comparison — more of an offensive threat than a two-way player. But the Murphy comparison is the one that should excite Warriors fans.
Imagine a 6-foot-6 wing who can guard multiple positions, shoot 40% from three, and play within the flow of the offense. That’s Trey Murphy. That’s also Cameron Carr.
The Combine Performance: Why Carr Is Rising
Let me talk about why Carr’s stock is climbing.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Carr impressed scouts with his shooting, his athleticism, and his defensive intensity. He measured well. He moved well. He shot the lights out.
O’Connor originally had Carr going to the Chicago Bulls at No. 15. But his recent performances could propel him into the lottery — maybe even to the Warriors at No. 11.
The Warriors have been linked to Trey Murphy in trade talks. If they can’t get the real thing, drafting the next best thing might be the answer.
The Warriors’ Need: Wing Depth
Let me remind you why this matters.
Jimmy Butler is recovering from a torn ACL. He’s not expected back until the middle of the 2026-27 season. Moses Moody is also injured. The Warriors’ wing rotation is thin.
Andrew Wiggins is still there, but he’s inconsistent. Gary Payton II is a defensive specialist, not a scorer. Brandin Podziemski is a guard, not a wing.
The Warriors need a player who can come in and contribute immediately. A player who can shoot, defend, and play within the system.
Carr is that player.
The Draymond Green Factor: A Key Offseason Decision
Let me pivot to another important storyline.
The Warriors’ offseason hinges on Draymond Green. According to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, Green has a player option for next season. If he opts out — unlikely, per sources — he would become an unrestricted free agent.
If Green stays (which is expected), the Warriors have their defensive anchor. If he leaves, they have cap flexibility.
Either way, the Warriors need to add wing depth. The draft is the most cost-effective way to do that.
The Other Free Agents: Porzingis, Melton, Horford, Seth Curry
Let me briefly mention the other decisions facing the Warriors.
Kristaps Porzingis is a free agent. He’s a unicorn when healthy, but he’s always hurt. Do the Warriors bring him back?
De’Anthony Melton has a player option. He’s a valuable two-way guard. Will he opt in or test the market?
Al Horford has a player option. He’s 40 years old. Does he want to play another season?
Seth Curry is a free agent. He’s 35 and barely played last season. He’s likely gone.
The Warriors have a lot of roster decisions to make. The draft is just one piece of the puzzle.
What Carr Would Bring to Golden State
Let me paint a picture of Carr in a Warriors uniform.
On offense: Carr would play off the ball, moving through screens, spotting up in the corner, and knocking down threes. He’s a movement shooter — exactly the kind of player who thrives next to Stephen Curry. He can also put the ball on the floor and attack closeouts.
On defense: Carr has the length to guard shooting guards and small forwards. He blocks shots. He gets steals. He’s not a lockdown defender yet, but he has the tools to become one.
In transition: Carr runs the floor. He finishes above the rim. He’s a threat in the open court.
In the locker room: Carr has NBA bloodlines. His father played in the league. He won’t be overwhelmed by the spotlight.
The Ceiling and Floor
Let me be realistic.
Ceiling: A 6-foot-6 two-way wing who shoots 40% from three, defends multiple positions, and averages 15+ points per game. Think Trey Murphy III with more shot creation.
Floor: A rotational 3-and-D wing who shoots 36% from three and provides solid defense. Think a younger, more athletic version of Otto Porter Jr. from the 2022 championship team.
Either outcome is valuable. And at No. 11, that’s a win.
Final Verdict: Pull the Trigger
Here’s my honest take.
The Golden State Warriors should draft Cameron Carr at No. 11. Not because he’s a sure thing — no draft pick is. Because he fits. Because he fills a need. Because he has the upside to be a long-term piece for the post-Curry era.
The Warriors need wings. Carr is a wing. The Warriors need shooting. Carr can shoot. The Warriors need defense. Carr can defend.
He’s not a project. He’s not a reach. He’s a legitimate lottery talent who could be the steal of the draft.
The Trey Murphy comparison is apt. And if Carr becomes even 80% of the player Murphy is, that’s a home run at No. 11.
One thing’s certain: The Warriors’ front office has a decision to make. And Cameron Carr should be at the top of their board.