The Los Angeles Lakers are making moves during the NBA draft with free agency just days away from starting on June 30, 2025. Los Angeles was without a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft, but this is not stopping the Lakers from looking for help in the second round.
Hours before the second round begins, the Lakers struck a trade with the Chicago Bulls to move up ten spots to the No. 45 pick after initially holding No. 55.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are moving up in the second round of the NBA Draft tonight, acquiring the No. 45 pick from the Chicago Bulls for No. 55 and cash, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Shams Charania detailed in a series of June 26, messages on X. “Lakers move up 10 picks as they eye a young talent in the second round of the draft tonight.”
Here is what you need to know about the Lakers latest move.
Lakers Predicted to Take Australian Forward Alex Toohey With the No. 45 Pick in the Latest NBA Mock Draft
It is unclear who the Lakers are targeting with their new pick. Los Angeles has frequently been mentioned in NBA trade rumors for veteran centers, but the Lakers could also simply be focusing on landing the best player available at No. 45, regardless of position.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony quickly updated his second-round mock draft following the deal. The NBA draft analyst predicts the Lakers will land Australian forward Alex Toohey with the No. 45 selection.
“Toohey is an intelligent, versatile forward whose maturity stood out in the NBL and at the NBA combine,” Givony detailed on June 26. “Just an average athlete, he has made strides as a shooter. He will need to become more consistent from beyond the arc to carve out a role at the NBA level, though.
“Toohey checks some boxes with his feel for the game, consistent motor, length and anticipation on the defense,” Givony continued. “He has sharp basketball instincts, but he’ll need to become a more consistently aggressive and impactful offensive threat to use them in an NBA role — something he took a step in the right direction with this past year.”
The Lakers Have Also Been Linked to Kentucky Center Amari Williams
Another option is for the Lakers to add some needed depth at center. Prior to the trade, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie predicted Los Angeles would select Kentucky center Amari Williams with the No. 55 pick.
“Williams is a large human with an incredibly long wingspan at 7-6,” Vecenie detailed on June 26. “Offensively, Williams is one of the best big man passers in the draft, with the ability to run dribble handoffs and play at the top of the key before making reads to cutters and kickouts to his teammates.
“Defensively, Williams is quite slow, but he uses his length on the interior well and is seen as an intriguing third center option for NBA teams with potential to develop into more.”
As for NBA free agency, the Lakers are well above the salary cap. Los Angeles’ most likely option in free agency is the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception. The Lakers could also attempt to try to entice veterans to play for less money in an attempt to win a championship alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
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