The center position has been an area of weakness for the Los Angeles Lakers all season long. Although Deandre Ayton has taken steps to embrace a role the Lakers want him to play ahead of the playoffs, the long-term outlook on the center spot is still rather bleak. Thankfully for Lakers fans, this past weekend of March Madness showed that there is a ton of upside in this year's big class.
This center class may not have the top-end talent that produces multi-time all-stars at the five spot. However, what it does have is depth, NBA-ready players, athleticism, and upside that could really benefit LA.
For a Lakers team that already has long-term star power in Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they don't need anything crazy from the five spot, just someone who plays with energy and makes winning plays. Right now, the Lakers are projected to pick anywhere from 23 to 30 in the 2026 class, which puts them in a perfect range to draft one of this class's bigs.
Lakers' center options are endless in the 2026 NBA Draft
The first two rounds of March Madness gave us incredible performances from several bigs, most notably: Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara. Outside of those two, St. John's Zuby Ejiofor, Kansas' Flory Bidunga, UNC's Henri Veesaar, and Arizona's Motiejus Krivas all had strong showings as well.
All of these big men affected the game in different ways. They each have very unique skill sets that could create different fits in JJ Redick's scheme.
If he's still on the board at the Lakers' pick and they want upside mixed with raw talent, then Veesaar is the answer. He's a massive 7-footer who protects the rim well, is a smart decision-maker, a threat from outside, and has shown potential as a post playmaker.
Another strong option is the aforementioned, Johnson, whom I just watched live this past weekend in the round of 32 in Buffalo. The entire game against St. Louis, he was the best player on the court.
He anchored the paint defensively, he got stops on the perimeter, created space for his teammates with screens, fought on the glass, and finished plays. He can play both the four and the five. All of this would give Redick a ton of versatility in the front court.
If the goal is strictly size, one of Mara or Krivas (if he declares) would be the best bet. Both are giants who thrive in the pick-and-roll. Mara has more upside with his passing and shooting ability, while Krivas is more of a glass-cleaning paint beast.
If they are looking for a more finesse-driven big man who can handle the ball, anchor the paint, and bring strength and experience, Ejiofor could be their guy. This past season, his outside shot has developed to the point where opposing defenses have to at least respect his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc.
One final name to watch is Hannes Steinbach, who didn't make the tournament with Washington but is a physical rebounding freak with smoothness to his offensive game.
This offseason, the Lakers are expected to have a ton of money in free agency, and while some may suggest addressing the center spot, Rob Pelinka can do that through the draft. The amount of depth in this year's center class is rare and presents the Lakers with a chance to fill one of their biggest voids at a low price.