With the No. 55 pick the Lakers will be looking to strike gold late in the 2025 NBA Draft.
With the NBA Draft coming up in June, the Lakers are working on figuring out who they might take with the No. 55 pick.
While having a selection so deep in the draft makes it harder to pick a player that can turn into a contributor, L.A. has done it before.
Last year, they picked Bronny James at the same spot, and he had a quality season of development.
Recent second-round picks the Lakers have made, including Svi Mykhailiuk and Ivica Zubac, have also turned out to be quality NBA players.
The Lakers have even found success after the draft. Austin Reaves is a player they picked up as an undrafted guard and now he is one of the most important players in the organization.
With President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka stating he would explore “every single unturned stone” to find a center, this upcoming draft is the first place to start.
Let’s take a look at who some of the latest post-draft combine mock drafts are projecting to go to the Lakers.
Bleacher Report — Mouhamed Faye, center, Reggio Emilia
It seems that every year, the NBA becomes increasingly international. With the Lakers needing a big and having such a deep pick, looking overseas for talent could allow them to find a player who is flying a bit under the radar.
Listed at 6’10 and at 20 years old, Faye could be a big the Lakers can draft and develop.
Here is what Jonathan Wasserman said about the selection:
Mouhamed Faye’s defensive range is the draw, though he’s also used his size and quick leaping to rack up 59 dunks so far this year.
He could be tougher holding his ground defending the post, but the way he’s able to slide his feet and cover ground could help teams picture a switchable big who guards in space and blocks shots.
CBS Sports — Eric Dixon, power forward, Villanova
While depth at center was clearly an issue for the Lakers, overall size is needed. Dixon is a power forward from Villanova who averaged 23.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Wildcats.
He is a senior, so perhaps he can enter the league ready to make an immediate contribution. Here’s Kevin O’Connor’s thoughts on this draft prospect.
Dixon’s a professional bucket-getter who led college basketball in scoring last season and earned All-American honors in his fifth and final season at Villanova. He plays bigger than his measurements indicate and has managed efficiency as a scorer in various roles in college.
Sports Illustrated — Koby Brea, guard, Kentucky
Another guard might not be the most necessary role to address for the Lakers, but it’s always good to assess who is available and take the best player. Derek Parker didn’t provide an analysis on why he thinks Brea could join the Lakers, but looking at his production, it’s clear why such a scorer could look good in purple and gold.
Brea averaged 11.6 points and shot 43% from 3-point range during his senior season in Kentucky. If he can shoot that consistently in the NBA, he can turn into a scorer in this league.
Perhaps the best option for the Lakers would be to select him in the second round and see if he can become a rotation-level player for the franchise.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.