The 2025-26 NBA season just started, but it’s never too early for teams to start thinking about the draft. The Los Angeles Lakers should have more financial flexibility in the offseason with LeBron James likely moving on.
However, they still need to be better about finding impact players in the draft. It has been several years since the Lakers drafted a true impact player who is still on the roster. As the season started, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman put together a mock draft for the 2026 NBA Draft.
He projected the Lakers to select Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 25 pick.
“Yaxel Lendeborg’s scoring versatility was on full display during his 31-point debut with Michigan in a preseason game against Cincinnati,” Wasserman wrote. “He’ll have a chance to build on last year’s first-round interest if he’s able to make another jump as a shooter.
“Regardless, NBA teams figure to see a rotational prospect who has the body and motor to finish and offensive rebound, translatable passing skills and enough face-up game to score one-on-one in space. Strong mid-range, free-throw and floater percentages are also promising indicators for his potential to become a capable three-point threat.”
More Background on Lendeborg
Lendeborg isn’t going to have a ton of upside. He’s going to be 24 when he starts his rookie season, which is how old Anthony Edwards is right now. However, he has a chance to be an interesting prospect.
He had a strong two-year run at UAB before transferring to Michigan this year. He’ll now have a chance to show what he can do against much stronger competition. He’s the back-to-back AAC Defensive Player of the Year, so he has upside as a defensive stopper.
As Wasserman noted, he needs to improve his shooting, but if he can, he has a chance to be a real player at the NBA level. With James likely done with the Lakers after this season, the team could use another big body at forward next season.
Josh Dix Projected in the Second Round
Lendeborg wasn’t the only draft prediction for the Lakers. Wasserman also sees the team selected Creighton forward Josh Dix in the second round.
“Josh Dix had one of the NCAA’s best shooting profiles in terms of accuracy and shot diversity last season. A dangerous spot-up, pull-up and movement shotmaker, he also totaled 89 assists to just 27 turnovers,” Wasserman wrote. “Teams could see an adaptable, 6’6” role player who’ll provide perimeter firepower and good decision-making.
“Shooting will be his calling card, but like Baylor Scheierman, he could handle and make plays out of pick-and-roll sets.”
Landing a player who could shoot like Dix and a defender like Lendeborg in one draft class would be a solid haul for a team unlikely to have any high picks. The Lakers simply need to be better at drafting if they’re going to have sustained success. There’s new ownership in place now, so general manager Rob Pelinka needs to improve that aspect of the team. If he can’t, he might be put on the hot seat sooner rather than later.
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