The Lakers traded up one spot to the 24th pick in Tuesday night’s NBA draft and selected Cameron Carr, a 6-foot-5 guard from Baylor, an explosive driver who could also add shooting depth for the Lakers after his breakout sophomore season in the Big 12.
The New York Knicks received the Lakers’ 25th overall pick and cash considerations, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, allowing the Lakers to strike and select Carr.
Carr, the son of former NBA guard Christopher Carr, averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game for the Bears while shooting 49.4% from the field and 37.4% from 3-point range last season. Carr began his collegiate career at Tennessee before transferring to Baylor.
At the NBA combine, Carr recorded a 30-point game during five-on-five runs, and shot 6 for 12 from behind the arc, jumping on the radar of a handful of teams due to his high-octane effort. When it comes to measurables, Carr recorded the second-highest vertical leap (38 inches) and the second-highest max vertical leap among guards (42 1/2 inches) to go with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. Carr, who was born in Eden Prairie, Minn, shined in the lane agility drill by registering a 10.46-second time, the second-fastest effort at the combine.
The Lakers’ selection of Carr, opting to add a guard rather than frontcourt depth such as Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. or Connecticut’s Tarris Reed Jr., is the first step for the franchise this offseason. The team remains in talks with Austin Reaves and LeBron James over their futures after the exclusive negotiating window opened last week.
Reaves is set to decline his player option and enter free agency. He is eligible for a five-year, $241 million max-level contract from the Lakers, while James, 41 and potentially entering a record 24th NBA season, is an unrestricted free agent. Guard Marcus Smart ($5.3 million) and center Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) hold player options, and have until Monday at 2 p.m. PT to make a decision on their potential second seasons with the Lakers.
Where the Lakers hold control over the offseason market in some senses, is with their league-leading $52.1 million in open salary cap space, according to Kevin Smith of Spotrac.
When the Brooklyn Nets – long rumored to be in the market for Reaves despite only being eligible to offer the 28-year-old guard a four-year, $178 million max contact – traded for Julius Randle in a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves that sent center Nic Claxton to the Bulls, their open cap space reduced to a level that, for now, likely removes them from contention for Reaves.
The second round of the 2026 NBA draft will take place on Wednesday. As of Tuesday night, the Lakers do not hold a second-round pick.
More to come on this story.