ESPN Mocks UConn Star to Warriors in Lottery

Golden State could land lottery pick, select Braylon Mullins in new 2026 NBA Mock Draft

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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A new ESPN mock draft has the Golden State Warriors, currently in the 9th seed in the Western Conference, potentially landing a lottery pick and selecting UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins. Mullins has had a solid debut season for the Huskies, averaging 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Why it matters

If the Warriors' current standings hold, they would face the Portland Trail Blazers in the play-in tournament. A loss there would push their pick into the lottery, where they could land a talented young player like Mullins to help bolster their wing depth.

The details

The Warriors are currently 8.5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies, who sit outside the play-in at 11th in the West. Selecting Mullins, who has shot 44% from the field, 36.4% from 3, and 87% from the free-throw line as a freshman, could provide a scoring boost on the wing for Golden State.

  • As of March 11, 2026, the Warriors are in the 9th seed in the Western Conference standings.
  • The Warriors would face the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening round of the play-in tournament if the current standings hold.

The players

Braylon Mullins

A freshman guard at the University of Connecticut, Mullins has had a solid debut season, averaging 12.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Golden State Warriors

An NBA team currently in the 9th seed in the Western Conference standings, with a chance to land in the lottery if they lose in the play-in tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Selecting someone like Braylon Mullins in the NBA Draft would help the Warriors on the wings, but it isn't yet a certainty that he leaves UConn.”

— Jeremy Woo, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

If the Warriors' current standings hold, they would face the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening round of the play-in tournament. A loss there would push their pick into the lottery, where they could potentially select Braylon Mullins.

The takeaway

The Warriors' potential lottery pick could provide them with a talented young wing player in Braylon Mullins, who has had a promising freshman season at UConn. This would help bolster their depth on the wing as they look to return to championship contention.