The Lakers have been searching for an elite big man for quite some time. Back in 2025, when Anthony Davis was still on the roster, he made it clear he wanted the Lakers to trade for a center.
He ended up being traded for Luka Dončić, but the team still needed someone to play the five alongside their new superstar. They ended up trading for Mark Williams, but the deal was rescinded.
Since then, the Lakers have tried to play Jaxson Hayes as their starter, and then brought in Deandre Ayton. While each player has found some success, neither has been good enough, which is why recent reports that Dončić wants the Lakers to acquire an A-list center come as no surprise.
The options for the Lakers at this point are to try to trade for a big, sign one via free agency, or select one in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
In Jake Fisher’s piece for The Stein Line released on Saturday, he discussed a pair of centers the Lakers could be interested in drafting with the No. 25 pick.
The Lakers at No. 25 are another team rivals are projecting will land on a big man. Depending on what happens with teams above them, they might be presented with the opportunity to draft Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance, who once figured to go much higher but has inspired trepidation among some NBA teams with a slow recovery from a torn ACL in February 2025.
Another big man who’s been connected to the Lakers is UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., who I’ve also heard has interest from teams as high as the late teens.
Jayden Quaintance doesn’t have much college tape to evaluate. Due to his ACL injury, he only played in four games for Kentucky during his sophomore season. As a freshman at Arizona State, he played in 24 games, averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. In six of those contests, he had a double-double, with his most impressive performance coming against Massachusetts, where he scored 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his team’s 78-62 win.
Quaintance is considered an elite rim protector and averaged 2.6 blocks per game at Arizona State.
Given the seriousness of his injury, he could be available for the Lakers at 25. While there is risk in selecting him, the upside is getting a player who’s far better than what is typically available late in the draft.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Tarris Reed Jr. has worked out for the Lakers, so it seems LA is not only interested but also evaluating him in person.
Reed Jr. had the full college experience, playing two years at Michigan and another two at UConn. His last season with the Huskies was his best as he averaged 14.7 points per game on 60% shooting. Reed Jr. also grabbed nine rebounds per game.
As a 2025-26 All-Big East First Team player, Reed Jr. has demonstrated that he can play at a high level as a college big man. Can he do the same at the NBA level?
Los Angeles needs to take advantage of every opportunity to bolster its roster. So, whether it’s Reed Jr., Quaintance, or someone else, if they can find a frontcourt player they like with the No. 25 pick, they need to make that selection.
Hitting on these late picks could be the wins in the margins that go a long way toward setting up the Lakers for long-term success. If they make the right choices this summer, the center spot could become a strength rather than an area that needs addressing.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
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