The Los Angeles Lakers are targeting athletic wings and frontcourt depth to surround star guard Luka Doncic as they prepare to utilize the 25th overall selection in Tuesday night's 2026 NBA draft in Brooklyn.
With former collegiate coach Tony Bennett joining the front office as a draft advisor in February under President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka, the team aims to maximize their position following last year's ownership transition to Mark Walter, according to reports from the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times.
Pelinka previously emphasized the need for roster development and depth following a postseason elimination by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"Depth is really important, athleticism and youth," stated Pelinka during his exit interview in May.
The Lakers executive further explained the mandate from leadership to build sustainable talent within the organization.
"We have a lot of components of that on our roster, but we need to add to it.
…" Pelinka added.
The front office continues to seek value across multiple roster-building avenues as the franchise navigates contract discussions with current players like LeBron James and Austin Reaves.
"We have to continue to find young talent and develop them in terms of the resources that (Lakers governor) Jeanie (Buss) and Mark (Walter) are providing for us.
That’s an area that they really want us to grow," Pelinka noted.
In a separate media briefing reported by the Los Angeles Times, Pelinka echoed similar sentiments regarding roster adjustments following their playoff exit.
"Depth is really important, athleticism and youth.
We have a lot of components of that on our roster, but we need to add to it," Pelinka stated.
The executive highlighted recent late-draft successes across the league as an analytical blueprint for the front office.
"One of the players that they had who played really well, Ajay Mitchell, they got in the second round.
So there’s ways to add to your roster if you commit to doing the hard work and commit to the process of adding the right pieces.
… We’ll be doing that through the draft and free agency and through trades.
We’ve gotta find a way to have a roster that will compete with any team in the NBA.
That’s what we do here," Pelinka concluded.
ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks noted that Bennett's vast collegiate experience provides unique scouting advantages for the Lakers late in the first round.
"I think where Tony comes into play, not just with the draft, is having coached a lot of these players that are in the NBA right now," remarked Marks.
Marks suggested that identifying hidden talent becomes critical when selecting in the lower portion of the opening round.
"I do think there’s some strength to that from the scouting standpoint.
From where they’re picking, certainly in the 20s, I think there’s more value because you’re trying to look for an under-the-radar type player," Marks said.
The financial realities of the modern NBA collective bargaining agreement have shifted how teams view traditional salary cap space compared to prior decades.
"Sixty million or $50 million in cap space is not as appealing as it maybe was in 2010," Marks observed.
According to Marks, proper utilization of secondary resources like data and talent evaluation outweighs simple spending power.
"I think that’s where, whether it be from analytics or from scouting, the ability to fit pieces into the puzzle with that amount of money is where you’ll probably see more value than in the draft," Marks added.
ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo projected that the selection could hinge on how earlier picks unfold across the league.
"I’m guessing that’ll be kind of a best (player) available thing for them," projected Woo.
Woo indicated that the overall talent tier shifts noticeably around the Lakers' slot at number 25.
"I think a lot of the teams in the 20s right now are trying to figure out who’s going to be there.
I think 25 is right around where the talent pool kind of drops into that next tier of guys," Woo explained.
Analyzing specific wing prospects, Woo evaluated Duke shooter Isaiah Evans as a candidate whose perimeter accuracy makes him a strong fit for the roster.
"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," Woo analyzed.
National mock drafts have also linked the Lakers to Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance, who is recovering from a previous knee injury, as a high-upside defensive prospect.
"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," reported The Ringer.
CBS Sports analyst Cameron Salerno reiterated that frontcourt additions remain the priority for Los Angeles during this draft cycle.
"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," Salerno stated.
Draft analyst Kevin O'Connor detailed the exact style of offensive connector and defensive versatile piece that would complement the existing core.
"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," O'Connor wrote.
According to Hoops Rumors, rival executives report additional considerations for the Lakers include UConn's Tarris Reed Jr., North Carolina's Henri Veesaar, and Houston's Chris Cenac Jr. as options to reinforce the frontline.
