Lakers Predicted to Land Highly Touted Sharpshooting Guard

The Los Angeles Lakers have started the season with a strong 6-2 record, despite key absences including LeBron James not playing this season, Luka Doncic missing four games, and Austin Reaves sitting out a recent win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Head coach JJ Redick praised the team's resilience, emphasizing a player-led approach as crucial to their success and expressing excitement about the team's potential to compete with anyone.

For sustained success, the Lakers need to improve their draft performance, as they haven't drafted an All-Star since Brandon Ingram in 2016, who only achieved that status after leaving the team. Although they rarely pick in the lottery, they have opportunities to find talent later in the draft, with a first-round and second-round pick expected next year. In a mock draft for 2026 by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Lakers are projected to select Duke guard Isaiah Evans with the 26th pick.

Isaiah Evans, a sophomore at Duke, is noted for his scoring ability and spot-up efficiency, having ranked in the 99th percentile last year while hitting 48.3% of his threes. He scored 23 points in Duke's season opener, and if he maintains such performance, he could rise in draft rankings, potentially making him unavailable if the Lakers' pick falls outside the top 20. Evans is highlighted as a player to watch this season due to his shooting skills and potential impact on the draft.