"Who do the Los Angeles Lakers select with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft" is not the right question to be asking ahead of Tuesday's festivities. Does Rob Pelinka manage to make the most out of the asset is the real topic of discussion as the clock ticks down until the Lakers are on it.
It will be a tough offseason for the front office in Los Angeles. With limited options at their disposal, the challenge is to build Luka Doncic a roster that can compete for a championship in the immediate future. Ensuring that is possible starts with making the right decision regarding their first-round pick.
If Lakers use pick 25 on a prospect, they must be a day one contributor
The road least traveled for the Lakers on draft night is to just use their selection to nab somebody with the 25th overall pick. If that is the route they choose to go down, that prospect should be pushing for a spot in the rotation from the moment of arrival in Los Angeles.
There will be plenty of holes that need to be plugged ahead of next season for the Lakers. They need help in the frontcourt, on the wings, and in the depth department in general.
If, in spite of all that, the Lakers somehow manage to land on a guy who is not capable of immediately figuring into JJ Redick's rotation then Pelinka has failed the team's goals. With as deep of a draft class as this one, there should be no excuse that keeps Los Angeles from finding someone who can play minutes for them right away.
Lakers could just as easily find strong value from trading pick 25
While it is true that the Lakers have neglected the NBA Draft in recent years, or just flat out missed on their selections, 2026 may be one of the rare times when holding tight at 25 and making the pick is not the best choice. That asset can be used to solve other problems.
Perhaps the Lakers can package the 25th overall selection together with Jarred Vanderbilt in a scenario where they can finally get off his contract. Getting the extra cap space from escaping the remaining money on his deal would help Los Angeles in free agency.
The Lakers can also look to flip that pick for a proven contributor on the trade market. Rather than gambling on a prospect, there could be added comfort from securing an already established NBA pro. The mystery box is not always the better choice, especially with Pelinka's track record.
Eventually, the Lakers will need to dedicate themselves to a scouting department that can find guys who fit their system on cost-friendly rookie deals. This may be the rare time to kick the can on that.
Mark Walter's influence on the Lakers franchise could allow for a much more developed and improved front office team to help make a pivotal selection next time around. Meanwhile, this pick can still help Los Angeles through other means.
Whichever of the paths is ultimately taken here, the main thing Lakers fans will want their team to do is secure some actual help.
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