Lakers Eye Centers With 25th Pick, Monitor Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed
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Rival front offices believe the Los Angeles Lakers will focus on a center when they make the 25th selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Sources told Fischer that Los Angeles has shown particular interest in Kentucky’s Jayden Quaintance and UConn’s Tarris Reed. Quaintance sits at No. 22 on ESPN’s draft board, while Reed is listed at No. 33.
Quaintance, 6’9”, once projected as a lottery talent, is facing questions about a knee he injured with an ACL tear during the 2024/25 season at Arizona State. The 18-year-old appeared in only four games for Kentucky last year. Reed, meanwhile, has drawn attention from clubs picking in the late teens, raising the possibility that both centers could be off the board before Los Angeles is on the clock.
Additional draft targets
Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times also linked the Lakers to Quaintance and named Texas wing Dailyn Swain (No. 23 on ESPN) and Duke guard Isaiah Evans (No. 25) as potential options should either slide to pick No. 25. Turner noted the franchise is prioritizing rim-running centers and 3-and-D wings to complement star guard Luka Doncic.
The Lakers recently traveled to Spain to evaluate 6’6” guard Sergio De Larrea, ranked 30th by ESPN. They were likewise impressed during a pre-draft workout with Purdue point guard Braden Smith, sources told Turner. Smith is viewed as a likely second-rounder (No. 39 on ESPN), making him a possibility only if Los Angeles moves back or secures an additional pick.
Recent workouts in Los Angeles
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the following prospects have worked out for the Lakers in recent weeks: Skyy Clark (UCLA), Oscar Cluff (Purdue), Josh Dix (Creighton), Roddy Gayle (Michigan), Nate Johnson (Kansas State), Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford), Reed (UConn), Kowacie Reeves (Georgia Tech) and Peter Suder (Miami OH). Of that group, only Okorie is currently projected as a first-round selection, checking in at No. 24 on ESPN’s big board.
Source: HoopsRumors
