The Los Angeles Lakers — barring a trade — will be on the clock on Tuesday, June 23 during the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. L.A. holds the No. 25 pick, and right now have not had any significant momentum towards dealing it. But there is pressure on the Lakers to make a good pick if they keep it, as they have not had a successful first-round draft pick since 2018’s Moritz Wagner.
The Lakers traded their first round picks each year from 2019-2022. They then drafted Jalen Hood-Schifino and Dalton Knecht in back-to-back years before not picking again last season. If they do pick on Tuesday, many rival teams have an idea of where the purple and gold might go, according to Jake Fischer via The Stein Line:
The Lakers at No. 25 are another team rivals are projecting will land on a big man. Depending on what happens with teams above them, they might be presented with the opportunity to draft Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance, who once figured to go much higher but has inspired trepidation among some NBA teams with a slow recovery from a torn ACL in February 2025.
Another big man who’s been connected to the Lakers is UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., who I’ve also heard has interest from teams as high as the late teens.
Kentucky Wildcats center Jayden Quaintance is projected around the early-to-mid 20s in this year’s draft. Quaintance has been compared to a potential Lakers free agent target — Robert Williams III — due to his elite defense, but limited offense and question marks around health. He played only four games last season due to a knee injury, and it’s unclear what his status is today.
Tarris Reed Jr. from the UConn Huskies is more likely to be available at 25, but is considered too small to be a true NBA center. He compares somewhat similarly to Andre Drummond, but has more the size of a power forward, making it difficult to project what his long-term role could be.
The Lakers have to make a good pick at 25 if they are going to pick. They can’t afford another non-addition in the first round of the draft, given how important having good value contracts is under the current CBA.
Lakers are potential suitors for Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams III
Even if the Lakers draft a center at 25, they likely won’t be able to start that player right away, meaning they’ll need someone to take that role in 2026-27. It might just be Deandre Ayton again, but some other potential names are free agent centers Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams III.
Both players come with significant health risks, but represent the type of player that could be a perfect fit next to Luka Doncic.
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