The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t have a first-round draft pick in 2025, but that won’t be the case for 2026. They own their first-round pick next year, which will give them a chance to find a young impact player.
With the college basketball season still young, there’s a lot of time for more players to make a name for themselves, but there are already some standouts who could be fits in Los Angeles. Rick Pitino has quickly turned St. John’s into a college basketball powerhouse, and they have some NBA prospects on their roster.
In a recent mock draft for ESPN, Jeremy Woo projected that the Lakers would select St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor with the No. 25 pick.
“Ejiofor has impressed with his all-out effort and flashes of improving skill, with his passing ability making him more dynamic than most undersized (6-9) energy bigs in this mold,” Woo wrote. “He also hit a pair of 3s in a breakout game against Alabama, and continuing to display some touch from range would be helpful in solidifying a first-round case. He appears in for an All-America type of campaign, and if things go that direction, playoff teams searching for immediate frontcourt help may consider him at the end of the first round.”
Scouting Report on Ejiofor
Ejiofor was named the Big East Most Improved Player last season, so he could be an ascending talent. He’s not a player who is likely to develop into a superstar, but Woo sees him as a potential “glue guy.”
“Ejiofor looks set to build on last season and should be one of the most productive bigs in college basketball, playing with relentless effort that helps to cover for below-average positional size,” Woo wrote. “On top of his effort winning extra possessions on the glass, he has flashed an intriguing offensive skillset, as a capable passer and good athlete who can finish plays and help continue them. Developing a more consistent jumper would help Ejiofor’s case as a potential first-rounder, and he’s not a traditional rim protector, but his intangibles and ability to impact game flow with his energy might help transcend those issues and find him a niche as an NBA glue guy.”
Lakers Can’t Trade 2026 First-Round Pick
The Lakers’ timeline is a bit different now that Luka Doncic is on the team. In the past, they were open to trading as many picks as they could in an effort to win now, but they can’t be more patient now.
However, the Lakers look really solid to start the season, and that’s without LeBron James playing a game. The team might be motivated to swing a big trade at the deadline. If they want to, they can’t trade next year’s first-round pick.
Due to NBA rules, the Lakers can’t go back-to-back years without a first-round pick. They could swap the pick, but they can’t trade it away. That means the Lakers will be making a first-round pick in 2026. The team needs young talent, so it’s better for the long-term health of the franchise that they can’t move on from the pick.
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