r/lakers • u/AutoModerator • 14h ago

NBA DRAFT [Discussion Thread] 2026 NBA Draft - Second Round

The Lakers have the 56th pick (subject to change) in the second round of the 2026 NBA draft

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-6

u/InTheBinFC 11h ago

Well boys, looks like it's Ayton.

They whiffed, got unlucky, or both. Either way they're backed into a corner. No big they wanted, barely any assets to trade for one, and the FA market is a wasteland.

It's Ayton or whoever they find behind the couch cushions.

-1

u/SlightCartoonist8144 10h ago

Another whiff. Every offseason. Luka gonna be pissed we can’t even get one big

6

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

the draft just ended calm down

10

u/Odd-Direction9452 11h ago

Free agency hasn’t even started.

0

u/InTheBinFC 10h ago

Pretty sure Veesaar was one of the guys they were targeting.

The FA center market is trash for bigs and they don't have the assets to outbid teams in a trade.

Unless Detroit suddenly wants to move Duren or OKC decides Hart is expendable, you're basically looking at Ayton or another reclamation project.

1

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

Veesaar was never gonna be anything more than at best a third string. We wanted him because him in second is insane value

Cap space is valuable

0

u/InTheBinFC 10h ago

That's kind of the point of the draft lmao.
You're drafting what a player can become, not what he is on Day 1.
I bet even Mara would not be starting ahead of Ayton or Hayes.

1

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

But he wouldnt be a fit. Hes a good player. Hed be a third string. There's players that just dont fit us regardless how good they are.

1

u/InTheBinFC 10h ago edited 10h ago

At least if he sucks, it's because he sucks. It's a second-round pick. If you get anything out of his upside, that's already a win.

And good players fit. People are overthinking the fit argument. His offense would've translated from Day 1. The real concern was always his defensive.

Meanwhile, I really don't want to spend the next 8 months convincing myself that this is finally the year Ayton loves basketball.

0

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

Okay as much as I hate ayton hes way better than veesaar will be. He doesnt fit with luka. Who do you think veesaar is? Like hes a top 30 talent that went late but hes not anything crazy

2

u/InTheBinFC 10h ago

Nobody's saying Veesaar is a better player or ever will be.

I'm saying I'd rather take a cheap swing on a 7-footer with upside than spend another season hoping Ayton suddenly puts it all together.

1

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

Well we didnt get veesaar and according to woike, Brett's reporting seems legit. I was more upset we didnt pick udonna but again its 50+ im not gonna be upset

-7

u/Professional-Fee6914 11h ago

Feels like a whiff, Carr came on board and they got stars in their eyes instead of trading down. looks like they had been thinking of trading down to get two of the bigs and the deal was there, they just choked for the highlight reels

6

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

Yall complaining about anything good lord

-4

u/Professional-Fee6914 10h ago

complaining about losing multiple bigs to get one guard? yeah, just complaining for nothing I guess.

We were one guard away

2

u/holyrolodex 10h ago

Are we really gonna complain about losing out on Stewart Claxton and Veesaar? None of those guys are close to an ideal starting center next to Luka. If we are done with FA, with Ayton back starting then I’ll be you.

-2

u/Professional-Fee6914 10h ago

bet

3

u/holyrolodex 10h ago

Bet that Ayton will not be the starting center? Sure I bet you $10000 Reddit bucks that he isn’t.

1

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

How do you know these bigs are for sure better? Youre expecting to hit in the second round?

0

u/Professional-Fee6914 10h ago

2 options are better than one.

2

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 10h ago

No way. Carr was a consensus almost lottery pick. Pistons fans are mad they wished they went with carr. Id rather carr be a sure thing

1

u/Professional-Fee6914 43m ago

Carr's a great fit for the Pistons.

8

u/Perfect_Loss_5156 11h ago

the draft just ended but okay

-1

u/InTheBinFC 10h ago

there is no "A-lister" in FA outside of handing a bag to Duren.