Lakers 2026 NBA Mock Draft round up as June arrives
This week is the first week of June, meaning it’s a little closer to the 2026 NBA Draft. The draft will be held across two days with the first round on June 23 and the second round on June 24. The Los Angeles Lakers come into the NBA Draft with only one pick this year at No. 25.
The Lakers’ needs coming into the offseason are quite clear. They need consistent frontcourt help and they need size and athleticism on the wings in the form of 3&D players. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka made it clear that Luka Doncic is the franchise cornerstone and the roster will be tailored to his strengths.
By all accounts, the 2026 NBA Draft is a deep one and even with a late first round pick, the opportunity exists for the Lakers to grab a player who can potentially make an immediate impact. With the roster needs in mind, here’s a round up of who some of the popular mock draft analysts have the Lakers potentially targeting.
Lakers 2026 NBA Mock Draft results
No. 25: Tarris Reed Jr., UConn, C
No. 25: Henri Veesaar, North Carolina, C
No. 25: Allen Graves, Santa Clara, F
No. 25: Chris Cenac Jr., Houston, F
Sports Illustrated: Derek Parker
No. 25: Chris Cenac Jr., Houston, F
No. 25: Henri Veesaar, North Carolina, C
Lakers mock draft analysis
The various mock drafts are certainly in agreement as to what the Lakers’ roster is lacking; impact frontcourt players and athleticism on the wing.
One interesting player of note that is listed as being available on a couple of the mock drafts is Chris Cenac Jr. Cenac was always a projected first round pick, but in previous mock drafts he was expected be gone by the late first round when the Lakers were on the clock.
If Cenac is available at No. 25, that’s solid value for the Lakers. He brings the kind of athleticism on the wings the team needs and can be a good running mate with Luka Doncic. He is raw still, but is clearly the type of player who you kind of swing for the fences on.
Offensively, Cenac is very good at moving without the ball. His cutting ability and finishing ability make him an ideal fit alongside strong playmakers which the Lakers have. Defensively, he is suited to play power forward and has the tools to be effective at the NBA level.
And then a pair of mock drafts have Henri Veesaar as the Lakers’ potential pick. Veesaar is a bit of a pick and pop big man who has range out to the three-point line. With paint threats like Doncic and Reaves, he could potentially thrive with his offensive skill-set. He’s also a solid midrange threat.
Defensively, Veesaar is rather solid as well. He has good mobility for a big man and had good measurements at the combine. For a team in need of consistent size, he wouldn’t be a bad pick for the Lakers provided he is still available.
The final two players on the roundup are Allen Graves and Tarris Reed Jr. In a sense, Graves projects to be kind of what the Lakers were hoping for in Jake LaRavia. A big connecting forward who has a good shooting touch. A player who isn’t the most athletic, but is very fundamentally sound.
Despite only playing one season of college basketball, Graves could actually be very NBA-ready and could be a contributor from the get-go. He’s certainly worth a look for the Lakers if he’s available when they’re on the clock.
And then Reed is probably one of the more NBA-ready prospects in the draft, especially in terms of size. Reed is in the mold of rim-running center who can bang around the paint. He finishes efficiently and is strong in the pick and roll. He’s a solid interior defensive player as well.
Reed has been projected as a borderline first round-second round pick. He is certainly an intriguing option, especially if the Lakers want a more traditional type of big man. If they want someone who can probably help right away, Reed might be their guy. But if they want a more patient approach with development, some of the other mock options are solid.
The post Lakers 2026 NBA Mock Draft round up as June arrives appeared first on ClutchPoints.
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