The Los Angeles Lakers are focused on this season amid a strong start, but general manager Rob Pelinka always has to be thinking about the future. The team fired Joey and Jesse Buss, who led the scouting department.
Until the Lakers have replacements in place, Pelinka likely has a bigger workload when it comes to college scouting. Los Angeles owns their first-round pick in the 2026 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Lakers should have a number of positions they want to address, but one player the team could start keeping an eye on is Virginia Tech forward Neoklis Avdalas. In Jonathan Wasserman’s latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, he predicted that the Lakers would select the Greek forward with the No. 24 pick.
“Neoklis Avdalas’ shotmaking diversity popped again during his second 30-point game of the season,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s looked confident from outside with his three-point attempts and range all season, while the ability to separate into/convert two-point pull-up and fallaways creates more scoring versatility.
“Between the takeover performances and the 4.8 assists per game, which reflect perceived translatable playmaking based on his 6’9″ size, ball-handling and passing skills, scouts can somewhat look past questions about his athleticism and whether the space creation will carry over.”
Avdalas Had Impressive International Career
Avdalas is only 19, and this is his first year playing basketball in America. He committed to Virginia Tech after years in the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague. In 2025, he was named Greek League Most Improved Player and Greek League Best Young Player.
He was also a Greek All-Star in 2023. Avdalas has transitioned well to the American game, as he’s averaging 14.6 points per game and hitting 37.1% of his 3-point shots for the Hokies.
As Wasserman noted, he’s a great athlete, but he’s got a lot of skill. He’s the type of player to take a chance on late in the first round.
Lakers Urged to Stay Quiet at Trade Deadline
The Lakers have to be feeling good about their prospects this season. They are tied for the third seed in the Western Conference at 18-7, Luka Doncic looks like an MVP candidate and Austin Reaves is playing like an All-Star.
However, there are some notable holes on the roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Lakers could really use a 3-and-D wing. At the same time, the team might want to retain flexibility in the offseason.
The Athletic’s Zach Harper thinks the Lakers should stand pat at the trade deadline and focus on the future.
“Everything about the Lakers since trading for Luka Dončić has been about prioritizing their flexibility in the summer of 2026,” Harper wrote. “LeBron James has a no-trade clause, so he’s probably not going anywhere.”
James is either playing his last season with the Lakers, or he’s coming back on a contract that’s far below the max money he has been making. That will allow the team to add a younger star if they choose it. They could also use that money to fill out the roster with several mid-level players. If they make a big move at the deadline this season, they won’t be as flexible in the offseason.
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