Lakers to Host Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. in Pre-Draft Workout
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The Los Angeles Lakers will bring Houston Cougars center Chris Cenac Jr. to their practice facility today for a pre-draft workout, according to Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle. The session comes nine days before the 2026 NBA Draft, where Los Angeles owns the No. 25 overall selection.
Cenac, 19, is projected to come off the board in the middle to late first round. He measured 6-foot-10 without shoes and posted a 7-foot-5 wingspan at the draft combine, giving scouts the size and length they expect from an NBA big man. Evaluators have praised his mobility, rebounding on both ends and defensive upside.
Offensively, the freshman flashed a developing perimeter game and the ability to finish through contact at the rim. He converted 33.3 percent of his three-point attempts and 62.1 percent of his free throws last season, numbers that highlight both long-range promise and consistency concerns. Teams are still determining whether his best NBA role is at center or as a versatile power forward alongside a traditional post player.
If Cenac slides to No. 25, the Lakers could view him as a long-term front-court partner for star guard Luka Dončić. The organization has made bolstering the center position a priority after identifying interior depth as a roster need.
Los Angeles has also shown interest in Syracuse big man William Kyle III, a projected second-round pick or potential undrafted free agent. Kyle is considered an energetic rim runner who excels as a shot blocker.
Source: Lakers Nation
