The Golden State Warriors have the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That much is settled. What they do with it is a much more open question.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the team worked out a handful of prospects late in the pre-draft process. And one name stuck out as an actual late addition: Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz.
Stirtz was reportedly a last-minute workout addition on Thursday. Siegel described him as a “true dark-horse candidate” for the Warriors in this draft. That language matters. It suggests the Warriors are doing more than just covering their bases — they’re actively looking at guys who might not be on the typical top-15 lists.
Golden State also brought in Baylor’s Cameron Carr. Siegel noted that Carr has drawn “genuine interest” from the team over the last few weeks. Both players were in San Francisco on the same day. That kind of timing doesn’t seem like coincidence.
The Warriors have been linked to the usual suspects at No. 11. Michigan’s trio of prospects has gotten plenty of buzz, as has UC Irvine guard Andre Burries. If the Dubs hold onto the pick, those are the safer bets. But Carr and Stirtz are the kinds of names that could break through if Golden State gets creative.
There’s also chatter that the team wants to add another pick. Siegel’s reporting pointed to the Warriors having interest in players beyond the top tier of the draft. That could mean trading down, or packaging a current player to move up. Either way, the front office is doing its due diligence late into the process.
Bennett Stirtz isn’t a household name. But a lot of draft sleepers aren’t until a team like the Warriors gives them a look. The 2026 draft starts Tuesday. We’ll find out soon enough if that late workout was just a formality or something more.
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