The Los Angeles Lakers, for the entire Luka Doncic era, have been searching for a Swiss Army Knife point-of-attack defender type to do all the little things around the Slovenian superstar. In Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman’s most recent 2026 mock draft, he sees LA finally get their wing in Texas’ forward Dailyn Swain at No. 25
This past season, Swain averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as the lead man for the Longhorns.
After following former Xavier head coach to Texas for his junior season, there were plenty of question marks surrounding how good a team with him at the focal point could be. He easily put that all to rest by being everything for Texas.
Whether it was creating clean looks for his teammates, getting stops, closing possessions with big rebounds, scoring in isolation, or knocking down a jumper, he did it all. His ability to check so many boxes makes him both a concerning and intriguing prospect for LA at No. 25.
Dailyn Swain could be the exact player LA has been searching for
Coming into the NBA, the question most scouts have for the 20-year-old is what will be his niche, where he can hang his hat, or what skill will be his standout one? If he doesn’t have one, can he be a good enough floor spacer to get by as a well-rounded role player? Those are all very valid questions.
From my perspective, in the long term, I see Swain eventually filling a connective secondary playmaking role. It would be similar to what LeBron James provided before Luka's injury against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Swain could become that playmaking forward who takes pressure off the team's high usage backcourt and helps run the pick and roll and create scoring opportunities, especially in the break. While he is a strong passer and playmaker, he still needs time to get to that, hence him being expected to be on the board at No. 25.Â
So from day one, where I see him fitting in and carving out a role is as that point-of-attack defender, not the same level, but in a similar way as Herb Jones did coming into the NBA. At 6-foot-6.5 (barefoot) with a 211-pound frame and a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has both the height, length, and weight to be elite in that role.
Pair that with strong flashes, especially when guarding twos and threes, and it makes sense why that could be where he fits in. The key to staying on the court, however, is the shooting.
Swain has improved each year, from 15.4 percent from deep as a freshman to 25.0 as a sophomore, and now to 34.4 as a junior. That level of growth over two years tells us a couple of things: he’s willing to work, he has a real touch, and he has potential to eventually be a serviceable floor-spaer.
However, if that doesn’t become the case despite a unique talent toolbox, he won't be more than a reserve who sees 15 minutes per game on a good team.
For a Laker team that is expected to be pushed up close to the cap, drafting Swain to fill a need for a point-of-attack defender would be a great use of resources. Over time, if he can develop, the Lakers may have the perfect connective wing to maximize the Doncic era.
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