The Los Angeles Lakers have a known need for three-point shooting and a glaring lack of young players who can provide it. Of the under-25 talent on the roster, only two players shot better than 33.3 percent from beyond the arc in 2025-26: Potential free agent Nick Smith Jr. and embattled wing Dalton Knecht.
Thankfully, rather than relying on free agency and potentially overpaying a sharpshooter on a multi-year deal, the Lakers could potentially draft Isaiah Evans and create invaluable long-term flexibility.
Evans played two fruitful seasons for the Duke Blue Devils. He received just 13.7 minutes per game during his freshman campaign, but increased that figure to 28.2 during a stellar sophomore season that saw him emerge as a critical contributor to a Duke side that reached the Elite 8.
Evans played no small part in that success, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds in the first round, 17 points in the second, and 25 during the Sweet 16.
Evans also dropped 32 points during the ACC Tournament quarterfinals and 20 during the ACC Tournament Championship Game. Beyond his impressive showings during the postseason, Evans solidified his place as one of the best shooters in the country, as well as a potential rotational cog in the NBA.
The Lakers still need to acquire veterans who can space the floor, but drafting Evans would enable Los Angeles to prioritize short-term deals with a developing talent in the rotation.
Isaiah Evans is the sharpshooting wing the Lakers need in the pipeline
Evans finished the 2025-26 season averaging 15.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.7 steals, and 2.7 three-point field goals made in 28.2 minutes per game. He shot fairly efficiently given his high-volume role, converting at a clip of .433/.361/.860.
Evans thus finished his two-year collegiate career at 38.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc despite attempting 429 threes in just two seasons.
Beyond the numbers, Evans has all but limitless range and a proven proficiency in catch-and-shoot situations. He's also comfortable putting the ball on the floor in space and can create his own jump shooting opportunities with impressive small-radius proficiency off the bounce.
In an offense that's likely to be built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Evans should have time to develop the latter skill while focusing on his spot-up proficiency early in his NBA career.
Evans admittedly has questionable defensive potential at just 186 pounds, but he has quality size and length working in his favor as a wing. At the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, he measured at 6'5.5" without shoes and posted a 6'8.75" wingspan. He also recorded the longest standing reach of any shooting guard at the event—and would've ranked third among small forwards.
If the Lakers believe they can help Evans add muscle to his frame and develop into a true two-way wing, then his shooting and big-game performances would make him quite an appealing draft option.
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