Lakers Set to Land ‘Elite 3-And-D’ Guard for Post-LeBron Era

The Los Angeles Lakers are surging at the right time as the season enters its most important stretch, with playoff seeding tightening across the Western Conference.

Los Angeles is currently riding an eight-game winning streak following Thursday night’s 134-126 victory over the Miami Heat.

Luka Doncic led the way with 60 points, tying the second-highest scoring performance of his career, while LeBron James added a 19-point, 15-rebound and 10-assist triple-double.

The win improved the Lakers to 45-25 on the season, but as the postseason approaches, attention is also beginning to shift towards a pivotal offseason.

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Lakers Weighing Key Offseason Decisions Around LeBron James

Offseason discussions continue to center around LeBron James and whether he will remain with the Lakers in free agency.

If James departs, Los Angeles could open up approximately $51 million in cap space, even after factoring in Austin Reaves’ $20.9 million free agent hold, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

General manager Rob Pelinka would then likely turn his attention to replacing the 41-year-old, with Peyton Watson and Tari Eason among the widely reported targets.

An “all-out pursuit” of Giannis Antetokounmpo has also been suggested by The Athletic’s Sam Amick.

However, the NBA Draft could offer a more realistic path to strengthening the roster with young, cost-controlled talent while maintaining long-term flexibility.

In his latest mock draft on March 17, Bleacher Report analyst Jonathan Wasserman projected the Lakers selecting Baylor guard Cameron Carr with the 22nd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Through 32 games this season, Carr is averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per game.

He is shooting an efficient 51.0% from the field and an impressive 39.4% from three-point range on 5.9 attempts per contest.

“Consistency and a high release have helped Cameron Carr’s shotmaking look very persuasive,” Wasserman wrote. “With 37 dunks and 31 blocks at 6’5″, the combination of shooting skills and athleticism should help Carr appear very safe and easy to project.”

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Cameron Carr Emerging as Intriguing Two-Way Prospect

Carr has developed into one of college basketball’s breakout performers during his redshirt sophomore season.

His rise has been particularly notable given his unconventional path. He averaged just 1.6 points in limited minutes at Tennessee during his freshman campaign in 2023-24 before a thumb injury restricted him to only four games the following season.

After entering the NCAA transfer portal, Carr found a fresh opportunity at Baylor, where he has quickly established himself as a legitimate NBA prospect.

The 6-foot-5 guard recorded a season-high 28 points in a win over Texas-RGV in November.

In the same month, he added 27-point performances against both St John’s and Tarleton State, knocking down 11 three-pointers across those three outings.

Defensively, he has also made an impact, recording three or more blocks in six games this season, including a four-block performance against Norfolk State in December.

At 21-years-old, Carr offers a blend of maturity, athleticism and two-way upside that could appeal to a Lakers team seeking players capable of contributing early while continuing to develop.

“Carr is set to offer elite 3-and-D upside on the wing at the NBA level, with his major strengths being his combination of physical tools and athleticism, 3-point shooting, off-ball scoring and defensive upside,” Sports Illustrated’s Derek Parker recently wrote.

His combination of length, shooting and defensive potential aligns well with the type of complementary players who could thrive alongside Luka Doncic and, potentially, Reaves moving forward.

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans