At his exit interview, one of the edicts from President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka is that the Lakers needed lob threats and wings with athleticism
.Join the club.
It’s the desire of every NBA team to find athleticism on the wings and at the center position. The surest way teams can find that, then, is in the NBA Draft.
With just over a day left before the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, the projected Lakers’ picks are mostly either lob threats or wings with athleticism, which shouldn’t
be a surprise. There is also one name that is coming up with increasing regularity as well.
Let’s look at the latest mock draft roundup.
ESPN — Isaiah Evans, wing, Duke
On paper, Evans looks like he fits the mold of an athletic wing at 6’5” with a wingspan of nearly 6’9”. However, he instead fits the mold of a sharpshooter, which certainly could fill a need as well.
Here’s Jeremy Woo’s breakdown on the pick:
Evans’ long-range shotmaking has kept first-round interest high, and he appears likely to come off the board in the 20s. He has nice size for a wing shooter, measuring 6-5½ barefoot at the combine, and has a pathway to becoming a valuable role player if he can continue to flesh out his game, particularly on defense. Though he is more of a play finisher and spacer than a creator, his ability to hit shots off movement is rare and perpetually coveted by NBA teams.
This should be a best-available pick for the Lakers, who should be focused on the bigger picture of building around Luka Doncic but are also dealing with new contracts for LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Evans’ shooting could be a useful addition and a strong fit for him playing off L.A.’s stars.
The Ringer — Jayden Quaintance, forward, Kentucky
Over the last week, Quaintance has been linked more and more to the Lakers. There’s certainly logic to it. He’s a great defender who can rebound at a high level, two things the Lakers could use.
Here’s what The Ringer had to say about him and his fit in LA:
Life with Luka Doncic can be tricky for guys who have grand aspirations or ideas about who they are as players. But for some, life gets simpler in a glorious way around Doncic, and Quaintance fits that bill to a T. If you’re focusing on Quaintance’s choppy and ridiculously brief tenure at Kentucky due to his injury recovery, you’re not going to come away with a clear picture of who this guy could become. Watching his tape from Arizona State a season prior is the way to go. I think he’s an All-Defense-level prospect on one end and the type of powerhouse who can punctuate Luka pick-and-rolls 10 to 15 times a game on the other. It comes down to health for Quaintance, but at pick no. 25, he is more than worth the risk.
CBS Sports — Jayden Quaintance, forward, Kentucky
Drafting Quaintance would certainly be a bet on both his medicals being clear and that the Lakers could develop him into a more refined player. If both of those things check out, then the team could pull off a steal by taking a player with injury concerns with the focus on the long term.
Here’s Cameron Salerno’s thoughts on the Lakers taking him:
The Lakers biggest need heading into the offseason should be finding a center. If Quaintance is still on the board, that should be the pick. He is one of the most unique prospects in this class. After playing in just four games at Kentucky last season, his stock has taken a hit. Still, when healthy, he is one of the best defenders in the class.
Yahoo Sports — Dailyn Swain, wing, Texas
Lastly, there’s someone who fits the more traditional role of athletic wing in Swain. He has an ability to get to the rim and finish and has a jumper that needs work, which sounds a lot like the last player drafted by the Lakers.
Here’s what Kevin O’Connor said about the selection:
What type of support does Luka Dončić need by his side? Versatile wing defenders who can serve as connectors on offense. Swain is relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher, and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing. But the reason he lives at the rim is because his jump shot is genuinely terrible. He has stiff mechanics, bad percentages, and a reluctance to even attempt it that goes all the way back to high school. He made improvements at Texas, though, so there’s hope his soft touch at the line and from the paint will eventually translate.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
