Lakers Urged to Add ‘Wildly Polarizing’ Forward to Boost Frontcourt

Since their nine-game winning streak was snapped by the Detroit Pistons last week, the Los Angeles Lakers have quickly regained momentum.

Back-to-back wins over the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets have lifted Los Angeles to 48-26 on the season, restoring their grip on the No. 3 seed in a tightly packed Western Conference.

The margin remains slim, however, with the Denver Nuggets just one game behind amid a six-game winning streak of their own.

While the focus remains firmly on postseason positioning, there is an increasing sense that the upcoming offseason could prove pivotal in shaping the franchise’s next phase.

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Lakers Could Eye Multiple Roster-Building Paths This Offseason

The future of LeBron James remains one of the central storylines heading into the summer.

Should James depart, alongside several expiring contracts, the Lakers could open up league-leading cap space, with ESPN’s Kevin Pelton identifying the frontcourt as a key area in need of reinforcement.

Even so, the NBA Draft presents a controlled and sustainable pathway for Los Angeles to add young, cost-effective talent without compromising long-term flexibility.

The Lakers currently hold their 2026 first-round pick and are projected to select toward the back end of the round.

In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report analyst Zach Buckley projected the Lakers selecting Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Through 37 games this season, Cenac has averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.

“Some clubs might decide Cenac isn’t worth the time it could take to develop him or the risk that the project will never pan out,” Buckley wrote. “The Lakers shouldn’t be one of those teams, since it isn’t hard to imagine some fun pick-and-choose actions between him and Luka Dončić.”

“Cenac should work as both a bouncy finisher and a pop-out shooter, and his effort level makes you want to believe he can maximize his potential.”

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Houston Freshman’s Upside Continues to Draw NBA Attention

Cenac played a key role in Houston’s run to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.

After recording seven points and a career-high 18 rebounds in a first-round win over Idaho, the 19-year-old followed up with 17 points and nine rebounds in an emphatic 88-57 victory over Texas A&M.

He remained active on the glass in the Sweet Sixteen, adding 10 rebounds in a loss to Illinois to close out his freshman campaign.

Despite being viewed as a modern stretch big with outside shooting potential, the Houston prospect shot just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc during the tournament.

Buckley’s colleague Jonathan Wasserman has also linked Cenac to the Lakers in recent mock drafts, while The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has described him as a “wildly polarizing prospect.”

Vecenie noted that, despite the mixed evaluations, several scouts remain intrigued by Cenac’s long-term upside, reinforcing his first-round projection.

Cenac’s blend of size and versatility would align with a Lakers team looking to strengthen its frontcourt moving forward.

At just 19, he offers both immediate flashes of impact and long-term developmental upside, fitting the profile of a player who can grow alongside an evolving core.

The Lakers are also expected to regain significant trade flexibility this summer, with first-round picks in 2026, 2031, and 2033 projected to become available in potential deals.

Whether Los Angeles opts to package those assets in a blockbuster move or retain them to select an emerging prospect like Cenac, the franchise appears well-positioned to reshape its roster through multiple avenues this offseason.

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