Lakers sell No. 56 pick in 2026 NBA Draft to Mavericks for cash
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The Los Angeles Lakers continued a recent trend of maneuvering late in the NBA Draft, sending the No. 56 selection of the 2026 draft to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for cash considerations on June 25.
The pick had only briefly been in Los Angeles’ possession. Earlier in the night the Lakers bought the slot from the Chicago Bulls, but they flipped it before making a choice. Dallas used the selection to take Russian guard Vsevolod Ischenko, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
League sources indicated the Lakers tried to move up from No. 56 in search of front-court help. Centers Henri Veesaar (North Carolina) and Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia) were among the final big men on the board, yet both were taken just ahead of Los Angeles: the Atlanta Hawks traded up for Veesaar at No. 52 and the Detroit Pistons grabbed Onyenso at No. 53.
Los Angeles did add one rookie on draft night, having traded up in the first round to select Baylor guard Cameron Carr. With their second-round avenue closed, the organization is expected to turn to the undrafted free-agent market to fill two-way contracts and finalize its Summer League roster.
Vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka recently emphasized the importance of developing young players under the current collective bargaining agreement. “In this salary-cap environment, leaning on player development is critical,” Pelinka said earlier this offseason, citing forward Rui Hachimura and guard Adou Thiero as recent internal success stories.
The Lakers will reconvene at their practice facility next week as preparations begin for Summer League play in Las Vegas.
Source: LakersNation.com
