The Los Angeles Lakers are set to use their available salary cap space this summer to redevelop the roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, but the team could also use the 2026 NBA Draft to add some young talent.
In a recent mock draft by Bleacher Report, the Lakers were projected to land Cameron Carr from Baylor with the 22nd pick in the draft.
“Consistency and a high release have helped Cameron Carr’s shotmaking look very persuasive. With 37 dunks and 31 blocks at 6′5“, the combination of shooting skills and athleticism should help Carr appear very safe and easy to project,” Jonathan Wasserman wrote on the wing prospect.
In 31 games for Baylor this season, Carr is averaging 19 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks on 51.7/39.7/79.9 shooting splits.
Lakers Predicted To Add 3-And-D Wing In NBA Draft
While Carr might not be one of the top names listed in NBA mock drafts, he’s shown a lot of potential on both sides of the ball in his third college season, after having a slow start to his career at Tennessee.
Wasserman compared him to Devin Vassell of the San Antonio Spurs, as he’s both not a pushover on defense and can offer some much-needed outside shooting for whatever team he joins this summer.
“Carr is set to offer elite 3-and-D upside on the wing at the NBA level, with his major strengths being his combination of physical tools and athleticism, 3-point shooting, off-ball scoring and defensive upside,” Dereck Parker wrote for Sports Illustrated. “In tandem with the length is his verticality, which is potentially second to none in this class as far as pure vertical pop and explosion goes. He’s a functional high-flier, able to utilize his leaping to elevate for dunks and finishes on offense, and even block shots on defense.”
He might be a bit undersized, but with his shot-blocking ability shown at Baylor, someone with his skillset could be valuable on the perimeter as the Lakers focus on a future with Doncic and Reaves.
Lakers Linked To Top Big Man In NBA Draft
If Laker fans aren’t interested in adding a wing in the draft, going after a big man could also be in play for the team this summer. In a recent mock draft by Christopher Kline of Fansided, Los Angeles was predicted to select 7’3” center Aday Mara from Michigan.
With his size and skillset, Mara would likely be a replacement for Deandre Ayton, who, so far this season, has been underwhelming for the Lakers.
“Mara is one of the most dominant interior defenders in college basketball. He will need to stay out of foul trouble at the next level, but he moves smoothly in drop coverage and presents a significant deterrent at the rim,” Kline wrote on the prospect. “He’s not the sort of springboard lob target you’d typically expect next to Dončić, but Mara has soft hands and a wide frame. He can seal off defenders and score with finesse out of pick-and-rolls. His visionary passing is perhaps the most exciting skill.”
Those are all aspects of the game in which Ayton has struggled for Los Angeles this year, and Mara would be a stronger defender with size that the Lakers could desperately want for the future.
In 31 games this season at Michigan, Mara is averaging 11.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 67.3% shooting.
The Lakers have also been linked to JT Toppin, Nate Ament, and Neoklis Avdalas in previous mock drafts. The team is expected to target either a wing or a big man, and they’ll likely pick in the early 20s in the first round, based on the team’s current record.
Lakers Tabbed As Landing Spot For ‘Elite’ 3-And-D Wing In NBA Draft