Lakers news now centers on the 25th pick in the NBA draft, and the first-round board is already narrowing toward wings and bigs. The Lakers enter Tuesday’s draft at Barclays Center with a late first-round selection that could send them toward Tarris Reed or Jayden Quaintance.
Jeremy Woo said, “A lot of the teams in the 20s right now are trying to figure out who’s going to be there,” and added, “I think 25 is right around where the talent pool kind of drops into that next tier of guys.” That is the slice of the board the Lakers have to work with, and it is why the pick sits in a useful but unforgiving spot.
James and Doncic shape the board
The Lakers are targeting wings and bigs to build around Luka Doncic, which puts the team in a different lane than a class that has drawn attention for guards. Isaiah Evans is one of the names in that range, and he said he only cares about going to “a city that is going to accept me.”
That fits the basic problem in front of the Lakers. The class is deep enough to keep several options alive at No. 25, but the most talked-about strength sits elsewhere, with guards drawing much of the noise while the Lakers want size and length around Doncic.
Isaiah Evans brings Duke production
Evans, a 6-foot-6 guard from Duke, shot 36.1% from three-point range on 7.4 attempts per game last season and averaged 15 points and 3.2 rebounds. Those numbers give the Lakers a cleaner read on one possible path if they decide a wing fits better than another big.
Mock drafts also place Dailyn Swain, Chris Cenac Jr., Tarris Reed and Henri Veesaar in the Lakers’ range. Swain said, “Once I get drafted, whenever that is, I have the same opportunity as the next person,” and, “So I’m just trying to take complete advantage of that and make the most of my opportunity.”
Friday deadlines still sit ahead
The pick comes with free agency deadlines still on the calendar, including June 29 at 8:59 p.m. PT for Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to decide on their player options, June 30 at 3 p.m. for free agents to start negotiations, and July 6 at 9:01 a.m. for contracts to be signed. LeBron James may also consider stretching his career to a record-extending 24th season, which keeps the Lakers’ offseason from being just one draft-night decision.
Fran Fraschilla put the draft’s volatility in sharper focus with a list that included Jalen Brunson at 33rd, Tyrese Maxey at 21st, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 11th and Steph Curry after Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. He also said, “Love the top four, also know this draft is such an inexact science.” Which player the Lakers actually choose at No. 25 is still the unresolved piece.
