If there’s one thing every team would want to replicate from the NBA Finals-bound San Antonio Spurs, it’s that they are a very deep and young team. They got that way by building through the draft.
Now the Lakers aren’t the kind of team to tank to do that, and given the draft lottery reform, that is looking to no longer be a viable option anyway.
Still, the draft remains a way to improve, and with the Lakers holding the No. 25 pick, they need to find a player who can contribute immediately to winning
basketball.
Here is a rundown of players experts believe the Lakers can choose once they are on the clock.
SB Nation — Henri Veesar, center, North Carolina
Vessar has been a player connected with the Lakers in previous mock drafts. The reasons are simple: he’s an explosive center and Los Angeles needs as much frontcourt help as they can find.
Ricky O’Donnell offered additional insights into the Tar Heel’s potential.
Veesar is one of the only stretch five options in this class, but he does a lot more offensively than just shoot. The 7-footer thrived in a high-low game with Caleb Wilson by showing good passing touch and efficient scoring inside the arc. He won’t be a plus defensively at center, but giving Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves a pick-and-pop big man with good feel offensively would be a nice choice after this range of the draft was thinned out by NIL.
Yahoo Sports — Zuby Ejiofor, forward, St. John
Ejiofor improved every year at St. John’s and averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game his senior season. He was also a defensive force, averaging 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals per game in the Big East. That level of defensive ability is something the Lakers certainly need more of.
Kevin O’Connor explains below why Ejiofor would look good in a purple-and-gold uniform.
The Lakers could use a frontcourt player with a winning pedigree like Ejiofor, who found success with foundational skills: motor, length and defensive versatility. The question with Ejiofor is the fact he’s undersized for a center and his jumper is still a work in progress. But he’s developed enough to deserve a chance to figure it out in the league.
CBS Sports — Christian Anderson, guard, Texas Tech
While the Lakers have a clear need for frontcourt players, it’s typically best to select the top prospect on your draft board when it’s time to make a pick.
That player may very well be Anderson from Texas Tech.
He averaged 18.5 points per game, and Texas Tech loved having him on the floor. Anderson averaged 38.4 minutes per game out of the 40 that are possible in every contest.
His offensive firepower is why David Cobb of CBS Sports likes the idea of him playing with the Lakers.
The first thing any scout will note on Anderson is that he’s undersized. But once you get past that obvious truth and dive into the game, there is a lot to like. He’s a good athlete, a great 3-point shooter (both off the dribble and off the catch) and an elite facilitator. Sometimes the eye test is worth more than the measuring tape, and that could prove to be true with Anderson.
Bleacher Report — Dailyn Swain, forward, Texas
There’s another player from the South who could be a good pick for LA: Swain from Texas. The Longhorn averaged 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in his only year in Texas. Given his offensive outburst and his 54.2% shooting from the field, he is an intriguing prospect.
Jonathan Wasserman makes the case for Swain to LA.
There’s been a brighter spotlight on Dailyn Swain, particularly after Texas won three NCAA tournament games.
His NBA role will likely differ from the one he plays now, where he’s often handling the ball in ball screen and transition situations. But he’ll certainly be able to use the skills he’s developed to become a more well-rounded Swiss Army knife, specifically his improved creation, pull-up game, floater and passing.
Between his explosiveness for finishing, 3.5 assists per game, scoring off the dribble and defensive playmaking, scouts are taking Swain seriously.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
