The Los Angeles Lakers utilized the No. 36 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft to select Adou Thiero. Thiero is a captivating young player with extraordinary defensive potential, but up to this point in the 2025-26 season, has played just 18 games.
Though Thiero's upside made him a worthwhile pick, one can't help but acknowledge that they passed over a player who's an All-Rookie candidate at a position of need: Maxime Raynaud.
Raynaud, 22, was selected six picks after the Lakers took Thiero, 21, at No. 36 overall. The former Stanford Cardinal star has already stepped up, He's appeared in 54 games, starting 36 and consistently showcasing the type of quality Los Angeles desperately needs at center.
Raynaud is currently averaging 10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 offensive boards, and 1.1 assists on 55.8 percent shooting from the field.
A 7'1" and 250-pound big with impressive mobility and a presence on the offensive glass, Raynaud has the tools to be a starter on a quality team. There's clearly a learning curve, and Sacramento hasn't exactly been an ideal model of winning basketball in 2025-26.
What Raynaud could've provided the Lakers with, however, is the one thing they've spent the post-Ivica Zubac era being unable to find: A long-term option at the center position.
Maxime Raynaud, drafted six picks after Lakers', is already a solid center
Los Angeles' current situation at center revolves around polarizing starter Deandre Ayton and backup Jaxson Hayes. Ayton has already alienated fans, with offensive talent and lackluster defensive consistency that have many questioning if they want him to accept his 2026-27 player option.
Hayes, meanwhile, is a talented former lottery pick, but there's a reason he's 25 years of age and has signed consecutive minimum contracts with the Lakers.
Though neither is subpar in a general sense, they're not necessarily providing an ideal level of consistency at the 5-spot. To make matters worse, both are eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2026 and could thus leave the Lakers without a single center on the roster.
Raynaud would've not only provided production that Hayes has struggled to muster, but cost-efficient talent that could've at least provided stability to the backup role.
Instead, the Lakers are hoping that they can make something out of nothing at the 2026 NBA Draft and in free agency. Perhaps they'll find their answer after all and provide Thiero with the opportunity to silence this potential critic, especially when one considers how profound his untapped potential is.
One simply can't help but feel as though missing out on an opportunity to draft a 22-year-old center who's already productive and in the running for All-Rookie recognition was a mistake considering the Lakers' general outlook at the 5.