The Warriors selected Florida State guard Lajae Jones with their second-round pick (No. 54 overall) of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 24.
Jones is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound guard who is coming off a senior season in which he averaged 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
Golden State has placed an emphasis on drafting lengthy, versatile players with recent draft picks, and Jones absolutely fits that archetype. He will be able to defend multiple positions, and the fact that he is a capable shooter from 3-point range (32.5% last season) suggests why the Warriors had him circled.
The Warriors initially received the No. 54 pick in the draft from the Lakers by trading Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Raptors in February.
This draft pick has a strangely long history, as the Lakers initially acquired it way back in 2020 after a deal with the Cavaliers. When a trade includes a draft pick so far in the future, it’s easy to forget about it. But the Warriors were ultimately the ones who benefited from it, which ended up in them drafting Jones.
This selection comes a day after the Warriors selected Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick. He will likely be expected to perform for the Warriors as a rookie. It will be interesting to see whether Jones can secure a spot on the Warriors’ roster next season. He’ll certainly be given a fair opportunity to do so.
