The Los Angeles Lakers selected Baylor guard Cameron Carr with the 24th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and the hope is that he will develop into a two-way wing. At 6’5 and with a wingspan over 7’0, Carr has the physical tools to be a strong defender at the NBA level.
This means that Carr will likely find himself matched up with some of the best players the league very early in his career. And when asked whom he’d rather guard between Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Lakers rookie threw a little shade towards the two-time MVP, via Full Court Pass:
Cameron Carr on who he'd rather guard between SGA and Anthony Edwards
"Yeah, I ain't dealing with the flopping, Anthony Edwards"
(h/t @BronMuse) pic.twitter.com/sc5MDSxMQK
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 24, 2026
This past season saw the overall fan support of Gilgeous-Alexander take a turn as many criticized him for what they believed was constant flopping and foul baiting. Things were even more amplified in the playoffs with some even questioning whether he was only experiencing the success he did because of his ability to draw fouls and live at the free throw line.
Carr clearly has bought into that belief as well in choosing to deal with Edwards, but what is most important is that the young guard embraces the defensive side of the ball. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves being the primary creators for this team, Carr’s best bet to make an impact is as a floor spacer on offense, and point of attack defender on the other side.
The guard has all the physical tools to be a strong perimeter defender while also providing some rim protection as he averaged 1.3 blocks per game last year at Baylor, an outstanding number for a guard. He may have to eat those words towards Gilgeous-Alexander whenever the Lakers play the Thunder this season, but having that mindset and being willing to take on the challenge is the most important thing.
Lakers re-sign Austin Reaves to four-year, $185 million deal
The Lakers took care of one of their biggest offseason questions before free agency even began as they re-signed Reaves with a four-year, $185 million max deal. The contract starts at $41.3 million for next season and also includes a player option for the final year of the deal at $51.3 million. It was also rumored that the Detroit Pistons were preparing to make a run at Reaves in free agency, so the Lakers ended all possibilities of that.
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