Analyzing The Los Angeles Lakers 2025 Draft Class

Eric Dixon: Two-Way Contract

Eric Dixon has the highest upside among the entire Lakers’ rookie class.

The 2025 NCAA scoring champion showed rapid development during his college career. He became the face of the Villanova Wildcats during the 2022-23 NCAA season.

Dixon finished his senior year averaging 23.3 points and 5.1 rebounds. He is NBA-ready as a 24-year-old rookie, similar to R.J. Davis. 

At 6-foot-8 and 265 lbs, he already has the body of an NBA power forward. The Lakers need more shooting on the wing after Dorian Finney-Smith’s departure. Dixon will receive more playing time than expected if they’re unable to sign another notable wing. 

He won’t replace Finney-Smith’s defensive impact, but Dixon will replicate some of his scoring production. His two-way contract gives him the time needed to prove his worth, and JJ Redick was generous to his young talent during his first season as head coach.

There’s a place for him on this current roster, but his defense must improve if he wants to stay long-term.  

R.J. Davis: Exhibit 10 Deal

In addition to their signed talent, the Lakers also distributed Exhibit 10 deals to various players. Exhibit 10 contracts allow teams to gain the G League rights to the player, while giving a bonus.

The UNC Senior will be a steal for the Lakers if he can replicate his scoring performances at the NBA level.

As a 6-foot guard, he will experience a different level of adversity than he did in college, but his jump shot will get him playing time. Even with his small frame, he finished his five-year college career averaging 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 36.7% from three. 

Older prospects are constantly overlooked, but at age 23, Davis is NBA-ready. He will be 24 years old when the 2025-26 season begins, and it’s ideal for the Lakers, who are trying to win now.

Acclimating to the NBA three will take some time, but with Gabe Vincent struggling, Redick could allocate minutes to Davis. He played his best season during his senior year and was named 2024 ACC Player Of The Year after leading the Tarheels to a 23-14 record.

Davis has the potential to be the Lakers’ ‘spark plug’ off the bench, but he won’t boost the team’s defense, which was their biggest problem last season. Eventually, he’ll become a liability if he can’t add muscle, and at 180 pounds, it will take a few seasons to build the frame needed to defend at his size.

Signing Davis is a boom-or-bust move, but the upside is undeniable.

Arthur Kaluma: Exhibit 10 Deal

Kaluma was another safe pick-up for Pelinka and the Lakers front office. They wanted NBA-ready prospects who match their timeline as a ‘win-now’ team in the stacked Western Conference.

Kaluma finished his senior year at the University of Texas, averaging 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 35.9% from three. 

Standing at 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan, he will make an excellent addition, alternating between Shooting Guard and Small Forward.

He weighs 225 lbs and is known for his two-way play. His rebounding will be a massive boost for the Lakers, who struggled on the glass due to a lack of size. 

If he’s unable to earn playing time on the official roster, he will play great in El Segundo for the South Bay Lakers.

The G-League was phenomenal for Bronny James’s development last season, and Kaluma’s raw talent can be molded into something useful at the NBA level. 

Augustus Marciulionis: Exhibit 10 Deal

Son of a Hall of Famer, Marciulionis has displayed incredible offensive versatility during his senior year at Saint Mary’s.

He finished his season year averaging 14.2 points and 5.9 assists per game, leading the Gaels to a 29-6 record. The Lithuanian star was named West Coast Conference Player Of The Year for 2024 & 2025 after two excellent seasons.

Marciulionis has a chance to make a significant impact in the Lakers’ backcourt rotation, and his improved jump shot allows him to play the shooting guard in Redick’s system.

He is also a proven defender, but he must add more muscle to his frame to succeed at the NBA level. It’ll happen naturally, and at 23, he’ll fill into his frame faster than a teenage rookie.

Depending on how he performs in the summer league, he is the prime candidate for the Lakers’ backup point guard role during the 2025-26 season. Gabe Vincent had a disappointing first season in Los Angeles, and Marciulionis plays at a high pace that causes havoc for opposing defenses.

Only time will tell where he fits in the Lakers’ rotation, but he has all the talent needed to thrive in the NBA, similar to his father. 

Summer League Observations.

All prospects, except Thiero, will participate in the 2025 NBA Summer League. It’ll be a good opportunity to learn some of their strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for training camp in September. 

LA lost its first game in the California Classic to the Golden State Warriors after Dalton Knecht shot 3-13 from the field. Davis shot 1-7 in his NBA Summer League debut and faced adversity on defense.

Both performed better in the 103-83 win over the Miami Heat the following day. Dixon, Marciulionis, and Kaluma have yet to receive playing time.

Summer League ends on July 17, so the rookies have time to prove themselves, but they have to make every minute count.