The Los Angeles Lakers have not had very many opportunities to build through the NBA Draft in recent years, but when they have, one strategy has typically stood out. The Lakers have prioritized drafting players who require some work and development. It might be time to change that approach.
Adou Thiero, Bronny James, and even the infamous Jalen Hood-Schifino all fit that intent here. The upside was there in those picks, but each of them came with an expectation of needing several seasons of development. Hood-Schifino never got there. James and Thiero still could.
The Lakers did roll the dice on a prospect who should have been an immediate contributor in Dalton Knecht. That much looked promising and true for about half a season before the Mark Williams trade and everything that followed brought Knecht to where he is today: riding the bench.
2026 calls for a sizable pivot. The Lakers want to compete in the immediate future with Luka Doncic. That means the guys coming in should be capable of adding something to the team from the get-go.
Lakers need their draft prospects to add on-court value from day one
Take a look at what happened with Thiero in his rookie season during 2025-26. JJ Redick discussed wanting to get the athletic forward some run from the jump, but his injuries got in the way of that. That did not allow the Lakers to help their rook develop with on-court reps.
When that vital component was missing from the jump for a prospect who needed opportunities to grow, it became harder and harder to add him into the mix as the season went on. Apart from seeing some action in the second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thiero was largely relegated to the South Bay Lakers this season.
That was the right approach for him. Make no mistake about that. However, if the Lakers intend to put themselves in the conversation for a championship, anyone and everyone on the roster needs to be ready when called upon. That includes whoever ends up joining the team via the 2026 NBA Draft.
There is still every chance the Lakers dangle the 25th pick in hopes of tinkering with the roster. If they do use that selection, the urgency should be there to make a win-now addition.
In such a deep and loaded draft class, 2026 should offer the Lakers a real shot as someone who can be a part of their rotation from the jump. It is on the front office to figure out which part of the team gets addressed with that pick.
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