Lakers linked to North Carolina center in latest mock draft

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are now down 3-0 in their series against the Oklahoma City Thunder following Saturday's loss in the Western Conference semifinals. Even though they could pull off a miracle and make a comeback, eyes are starting to turn towards the Lakers' choices in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Lakers have the No. 25 pick in the NBA Draft, and they may want to load up on a center.

In a mock out on Sunday after the NBA Draft lottery, Jeremy Woo of ESPN has the same projection linking North Carolina junior Henri Veesaar, a center, to the Lakers.

"Veesaar comes off a productive season at North Carolina and will offer sheer size and viable shooting (42.6% from 3) in a draft that has become light on true centers," he states in the piece. "He has above-average athleticism and offensive skill for his size, plus he should also be able to hold up defensively in drop coverage."

Something else that's great about Veesaar is that he's a versatile player with the ability to rock both on offense and defense, and he'll be able to jump into the rotation during the season instead of spending too much time in development.

"The Lakers have some roster uncertainty"

Woo adds a strong point about this draft pick and how it pertains to the team's stars, as well.

"The Lakers have some roster uncertainty rolling into next season with LeBron James and likely Austin Reaves (player option) entering free agency," he states. "The most obvious need is at center, where they stand to upgrade beyond the mercurial Deandre Ayton. Veesaar would upgrade their skill level and add a floor-spacing element that the roster lacks up front."

It's worth noting that Kevin O'Connor, NBA senior analyst for Yahoo, goes a totally different direction and has the Lakers taking Jayden Quaintance of Kentucky. While he's a strong player, the 6-foot-10 forward is recovering from a right knee injury, including a torn ACL, so he's more of a gamble.

The Lakers need a dependable player to add to their roster, especially after this rocky playoff series. Adding a reliable center in Veesaar may not be seen as the flashiest move, but it's the move that could benefit them the most.