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Yaxel Lendeborg
#16
PF · Michigan

Yaxel Lendeborg

Pistons Fit
86/100
Rating
68/100
In range
The Verdict

Yaxel Lendeborg is the 23-year-old combo forward who dominated the AAC at UAB and transferred to Michigan to do it against Big Ten frontlines. Stat-stuffer in the truest sense — 12.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, real connective passing, and a 7'2" wingspan that lets him switch 3-through-5. The jumper is the swing skill (it was inconsistent at Michigan), and the age curve is what it is. For Detroit at #21 he's exactly the kind of versatile big this front office collects.

Archetype
Elite rebounder both ends
For Detroit
Connector four with elite rebounding and playmaking — Pistons love versatile bigs.
Swing Question
Jumper was inconsistent at Michigan
Latest Buzz

Combine intel pending. Measurements, workout reports, and team interviews land here as they break.

Per-36 Stats

18.0
PTS/36
8.1
REB/36
3.9
AST/36
2.0
3PM/36
1.4
STL/36
1.4
BLK/36

Michigan · 30.2 MPG · static profile seed

FG%
51.5%
3P%
37.2%
TS%
61.0%
REB%
19.4
2026 Combine
NBA.com · Chicago
Height (no shoes)
6'8.75"
Wingspan
7'3.25"
Standing Reach
9'0.5"
Weight
241.4 lb
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Naz Reid

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Motor City Fit Report
Pistons Fit
86/100
Strong Detroit Fit
Fit with the core
  • Cade4/5
  • Ausar4/5
  • Duren4/5
  • Grit5/5
TL;DR

Connector four with elite rebounding and playmaking — Pistons love versatile bigs.

The full read

Lendeborg is the Swiss-army-knife big Detroit's bench has lacked. A 6'9" rebounder who can short-roll, push in transition, and credibly switch onto wings gives lineup flexibility every night.

Scouting Room · For the Draft Sickos

The Report

Michigan combo forward, projected late first round. Stat-stuffer who dominated the AAC at UAB and transferred to Michigan. Rebounds, passes, defends multiple positions, and has a developing jumper.

At 6'8.75", 241 lb, Yaxel is putting up 18/8.1/3.9 per 36 minutes on 51.5% FG / 37.2% 3P (season splits) — a PF profile that lands at a 86/100 Pistons Fit (strong detroit fit). For Detroit specifically: Connector four with elite rebounding and playmaking — Pistons love versatile bigs. Full Pistons-fit breakdown is in the panel below.

Strengths
  • Elite rebounder both ends — 12.9 RPG, 19.4 REB%
  • Plus connective passer for a four (4.6 APG, 20.6 AST%)
  • 7'2" wingspan, switchable 3–5 on defense
  • Transition force — rebounds and pushes himself
  • Short-roll decision-maker (NBADraftRoom: 'point-four flashes')
  • Stat-stuffing motor — produces in every column
Weaknesses
  • Jumper was inconsistent at Michigan — the three still has to show up in shooting drills and Summer League.
  • 23-year-old rookie — age curve compresses development window
  • Tweener defensive position — undersized for the five, slow-footed for the three
  • Vertical pop is average; not a rim-protector
  • Free-throw shooting can dip when usage spikes
Best case for Detroit

Lendeborg is the Swiss-army-knife big Detroit's bench has lacked.

Biggest concern for Detroit

If jumper was inconsistent at michigan never resolves, jumper was inconsistent at michigan — the three still has to show up in shooting drills and summer league.

What would need to be true

He answers the open questions below — film, role, and reps between now and June.

Three Questions

  1. Can the jumper hold up well enough for Detroit to trust him as a floor spacer next to Cade?· debate →

  2. Does his age make him safer for a win-now bench role, or does it cap the upside too much for pick #21?· debate →

  3. What position does he actually defend in an NBA playoff rotation — switchable four, or hide-him five?· debate →

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Where Scouts Disagree

No public split on Yaxel Lendeborg yet — the scouting community is mostly aligned (or hasn't weighed in loudly enough for us to call it a real debate).

We'll log the divide here as soon as the takes start splitting.

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Film Room
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When we add highlights or analyst breakdowns of Yaxel Lendeborg, the clips will land here.

Consensus

SourceRank #
The Ringer
#8
No Ceilings
#9
Yahoo Sports
#11
Consensus avg
#11.3

Each outlet's evaluation of the player's pure value, ignoring team fit. Bars scale inversely to rank.

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