Last season, the LA Lakers stunned the basketball world by acquiring Luka Doncic in arguably the most shocking blockbuster in league history. While they nabbed a superstar-level talent in his prime, another part of the roster took a big hit.
In exchange for Doncic, the Lakers had to part with Anthony Davis. Since his departure, they’ve struggled to fill the void in the frontcourt. LA brought in Deandre Ayton in the offseason as a possible solution at center, but the organization could still look to bolster its big man depth in the future. Though the regular season just got underway, the 2026 NBA Draft already has a lot of eyes on it. The incoming class is projected to be deep and loaded with talent that could help any team.
This week, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo put out his first mock for the 2026 draft. As it pertains to the Lakers, they are predicted to pick in the mid-twenties and walk away with St. John’s standout Zuby Ejiofor.
Ejiofor, a 6-foot-9 power forward, is off to a hot start in his freshman season. Through his first three games, he is averaging 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists on impressive 67.9% shooting from the field.
“Ejiofor has impressed with his all-out effort and flashes of improving skill, with his passing ability making him more dynamic than most undersized (6-9) energy bigs in this mold,” Woo wrote. “He also hit a pair of 3s in a breakout game against Alabama, and continuing to display some touch from range would be helpful in solidifying a first-round case.”
Between the sizable contracts of their star duo and Austin Reaves’ impending free agency, the Lakers have to hit in the margins if they’re going to build a contender around Doncic. Having success in the draft is by far their best path to nabbing impactful talent at a team-friendly price.
