For an organization that's known to chase stars, the Los Angeles Lakers sure know how to scout talent. In recent years, Los Angeles has found the likes of Alex Caruso, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Austin Reaves in the most unlikely of places, thus proving their capacity for affordable improvement.
With a late second-round selection and the assets to trade up at the 2025 NBA Draft, the Lakers can find their latest unsung hero this June: Johni Broome.
Broome put together a résumé at the collegiate level that should stand the test of time. He was the 2025 SEC Player of the Year, a three-time All-SEC honoree, and even won the SEC Tournament MVP award in 2023-24.
Prior to his legendary career with the Auburn Tigers, he achieved similar success at Morehead State, where he was the 2020-21 OVC Freshman of the Year and the 2021-22 OVC Defensive Player of the Year.
2024-25 was his signature campaign, as Broome led Auburn to 32 wins and the men's team's first Final Four appearance since 2019. He dominated the interior on both ends of the floor, simultaneously proving to have more range than previously anticipated.
Broome will begin his NBA career as a 23-year-old rookie with a disputed wingspan, however, which should make him the perfect player for the Lakers to trade up for early in Round 2.
Lakers should trade up for Johni Broome at 2025 NBA Draft
Broome finished the 2024-25 season averaging 18.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 offensive boards, 2.9 assists, 2.1 blocks, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 three-point field goals made per game. He shot just 27.8 percent from beyond the arc and 58.7 percent at the free throw line, but he was willing to shoot.
That at least implies that there's something to work with, especially when one considers that he buried 35.4 percent of his three-point field goals in 2023-24.
Furthermore, Broome ranked No. 36 in the country and No. 12 among players in power-five conferences in offensive rebounding percentage. He was also No. 8 among high-major players in defensive rebounding percentage.
As if that weren't enough, Broome ranked No. 16 in block percentage and No. 2 in Box Plus-Minus, trailing only projected No. 1 overall selection Cooper Flagg.
Beyond the numbers, Broome is a throwback big who appears willing to adapt to the modern game. He's a dominant force on the glass, creating and preventing second chances at an elite level—skills that the Lakers lacked in 2024-25.
Broome is also a savy scoring threat who moves well without the ball, thrives along the baseline, exploits the angles available to him, and isn't afraid to finish through contact.
Johnni Broome could thrive as a backup as soon as 2025-26
Perhaps that doesn't make him an ideal fit for the starting role in Los Angeles, but depth will be as important as finding a high-level fit for the top of the rotation. Broome would provide aid, combining team-friendly skills such as rebounding and shot-blocking with the capacity for the occasional offensive eruption.
The latter ability is founded in his skill as a post player, which he can refine to become a reliable scoring threat in the NBA.
The bigger picture, however, is that Broome checks the boxes that teams look for in a backup center. He doesn't have to be asked to attack the glass, is a willing and competitive defender, and has a strong 6'10" and 240-pound frame.
The issue facing Broome: A wingspan believed to be in the range of 7'0", which falls below the standard of what teams aspire to add down low.
Despite those concerns, Broome is an elite shot-blocking prospect who produced big numbers across each of his five collegiate seasons. He's also a player whose timing, patience, and persistence are even more valuable than a physical attribute without refinement.
Unfortunately, due to the concerns about his age and wingspan, Broome is likely to slide to the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. The Lakers should capitalize by trading up to acquire him.