Feb 4, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka speaks before introducing Luka Doncic at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Lakers Land Potential Anthony Davis Replacement in Latest Mock Draft

Originally posted on Los Angeles Lakers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated May 14, 2025 11:22 AM ET

For the second consecutive season, the Los Angeles Lakers fell to a superior, more athletic team in a five-game first round playoff series.

This time, however, the Lakers' issues stemmed more from a lack of interior resistance. In that department, L.A. is clearly hurting without 10-time All-Star center/power forward Anthony Davis, whom the club flipped to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic.

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Doncic is a terrific offensive player, but his defensive issues proved costly along the perimeter. And when the Minnesota Timberwolves penetrated the perimeter against Doncic and 21-time All-Star forward LeBron James, there was no one to stop them from getting whatever they could at the cup.

In a fresh mock of the 2025 NBA Draft from Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the Lakers addressed that issue by adding a new big man.

The Dallas Mavericks have won the right to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick.

But the surprising NBA Draft order impacts the other lottery teams immensely.@Sam_Vecenie's post-lottery mock draft ⤵️https://t.co/MVd0ekFxSd pic.twitter.com/gL08WTJ6jR
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 13, 2025

Los Angeles only has the No. 55 pick in this June's 2025 NBA Draft. Vecenie projects that the Lakers will select 6-foot-10 Perth Wildcats power forward/center Izan Almansa.

Although he's just 19, Almansa has already logged significant pro experience. The Spaniard played for his native Real Madrid B club in 2020-21, aged just 15, and also suited up for Overtime Elite clubs Team OTE and YNG Dreamerz between 2021-23. He then suited up for the NBA G League Ignite during its final season, before most recently playing for Perth.

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During the Ignite's final season, 2023-24, the 6-foot-10 big man notched averages of 11.7 points on 56 percent field goal shooting and 61.4 percent free throw shooting, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.7 steals a night.

In 29 contests for Perth during the 2024-25 NBL season, Almansa logged averages of 7.6 points on .511/.333/.534 shooting splits, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 dimes a night in 17.4 minutes per.

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This article first appeared on FanNation All Lakers and was syndicated with permission.

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