With the 2026 NBA Draft right around the corner, the Los Angeles Lakers front office and scouting staff have been hard at work taking closer looks at a number of potential prospects whom they could look to add. The Lakers have the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, but could always acquire other picks, not to mention look to add undrafted players once the draft concludes.
And the players the Lakers have brought in for workouts recently cover a wide range, from potential first-round picks to players not expected to be drafted at all, with shooters, defensive wings and big men all coming in for pre-draft workouts, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
Among the prospects the Lakers worked out in recent weeks, sources told ESPN:
Skyy Clark (UCLA)
Oscar Cluff (Purdue)
Josh Dix (Creighton)
Roddy Gayle Jr. (Michigan)
Nate Johnson (Kansas State)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue)
Tamin Lipsey (Iowa St)
Ebuka Okorie (Stanford)
Tarris Reed…— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 21, 2026
Many of these players, such as Clark, Kaufman-Renn, Lipsey and Suder were already known to have come in for the Lakers. Additionally, Reed has been mentioned as a potential target with the 25th pick and the Lakers have also brought in Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. who could be available at 25.
Of the rest listed, only Stanford’s Ebuka Okorie is a possibility with the first round pick, and he may not even make it to 25. The electric point guard is a bit undersized, but thrives at attacking the paint and finishing at the rim while always playing with great energy on both ends of the court.
Purdue’s Cluff is a physical big man who is a great rebounder and solid passer, but not necessarily the lob threat type of big the Lakers have been targeting. Dix is a top-tier shooter who is also an underrated creator, but will need to improve defensively while Reeves’ ability to score at high level has been on display in his pre-draft workouts around the league and has allowed him to garner some buzz.
Both Johnson and Gayle are physical, defensive-minded guards with Johnson being a former MAC Defensive Player of the Year at Akron before transferring to Kansas State while Gayle was an important piece of Michigan’s National Championship team. Both are veteran guards who could be immediate contributors in the right situation.
The Lakers are wise to do their due diligence on as many prospects as possible so no matter how the draft plays out, they will have a good idea on which direction they want to go as they look to improve the roster this summer.
Marcus Smart more likely to return to Lakers than Deandre Ayton
The Lakers also have a number of decisions to make regarding some important pieces to last year’s team. And it is looking as if guard Marcus Smart is more likely to return than big man Deandre Ayton.
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