The Los Angeles Lakers traded up to 24th overall to draft Cameron Carr, and his summer league performance has teams regretting their decision to pass on the wing. Carr was the best rookie on the floor in the win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who featured the 12th and 16th overall picks on their roster. This was after the 6’5 wing put on a show during the California Classic. Every team could use a sharpshooting athletic wing who is already showing defensive flashes.
Carr finished with 18 points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks in a dominant win to open the Las Vegas summer league. He shot seven of 13 from the field in an impressive performance. Lakers’ second-year wing Adou Thiero was the only player with a case for being better than Carr on Friday night. Thiero finished with 20 points, four boards, four dimes, three steals, and two blocks in the win.
This was after Carr averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game during three California Classic games. He looked like a steal before arriving in Vegas, and Friday’s opener further cemented that. The announcers gushed over his impact, and it looks like the 21-year-old is already ready to help a contender.
Cameron Carr is standing out in summer league
The 24th pick in the draft is far from a guarantee. There are busts in every lottery, and the players get less likely to hit the further down the board they go. Rob Pelinka whiffed on the 17th pick in 2023 and 2024, as Jalen Hood-Schifino is already out of the league and the Lakers are shopping Dalton Knecht. There will be misses in this class, but Carr isn’t one of them.
During Friday’s broadcast, John Wall called him a “sleeper”, and Stan Van Gundy talked about the rookie being a factor in the Lakers’ rotation from day one. The former number one overall pick and the veteran head coach praised Carr, and it was for a lot more than just making shots.
The 21-year-old looks ready to jump into the rotation. He is making plays off the dribble, working off the ball, and showcasing his defense. Fans can watch a few key plays from the rookie below.
Cameron Carr connects from the elbow for 14 points!
— NBA (@NBA) July 11, 2026
The Lakers' first-round pick leads all players in scoring on Prime ♨️ pic.twitter.com/R9mCG6tdzI
Cameron Carr goes between the legs off the screen and gets to his spot. So smooth for the rookie 😭 pic.twitter.com/JjW4ikCRp1
— SleeperLakers (@SleeperLakers) July 11, 2026
Those weren't the only ones. Carr was doing a bit of everything in his first game in Vegas.
The Lakers traded up to make sure they got Carr. They were picking 25th, but gave the Knicks cash to move up one spot. Los Angeles didn’t want some other team to sneak in there and take the 6’5 wing. Several teams drafted wings ahead of them. It is early, but Carr looks special. There are teams already second-guessing their decision and others wishing they traded up to select him.
The Los Angeles Lakers got a special one in Cameron Carr. He is already primed to be taken much higher if the 2026 class was redrafted today. Every team would love a 6’5 wing who can shoot and defend. Carr looks ready for an NBA role now. Several players taken ahead of him can’t say that and may never reach where the Lakers’ rookie is already. Credit to Rob Pelinka. It looks like he nailed this one.
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