Lakers 25th – With the Los Angeles Lakers holding the 25th pick, Brett Siegel laid out four potential targets late in the first round, pointing to bigs, a Klutch connection, and wing shooting as the draft could shape the roster before free agency centers on Austin Reaves an
The Los Angeles Lakers enter this offseason with a familiar pressure point: the roster still needs the right mix, and the NBA Draft is the first place to hunt for it.
Even with the 25th pick on the clock, Brett Siegel believes there’s enough talent available in what he called one of the deeper drafts in some time—especially late in the first round, where he thinks Los Angeles could find pieces that fit.
On Clutch Scoops, Siegel pointed to a simple reality of this spot in the draft. “There’s going to be big guys on the board in that spot.” One name he immediately connected to that idea was Taris Reed Jr. of UConn. Siegel described Reed as a bruiser big man. and said he’s compared him to Andre Drummond “in a way. ” while adding Reed is “a little more loose and elusive than Andre Drummond was.”.
He also tied Reed’s potential directly to the Lakers’ style. Siegel said Reed could be a “really good fit for the Los Angeles Lakers,” describing him as a pick-and-roll big man with Luka Doncic.
Another possibility Siegel floated came with an NBA industry link. He suggested Koa Peat—who is a Klutch client—could be available when the Lakers pick at 25.
Then came two more names with different roles in mind. Joshua Jefferson. Siegel said. is “a proven veteran at the college ranks” with “a very good career with Iowa State his senior year.” And Isaiah Evans was mentioned as a wing option. with Siegel describing him as “one of the better wing shooters in this draft. ” specifically calling him a “3-and-D player.”.
That mix—big men. a possible accessible fit through Koa Peat’s agency ties. and more wing help—connects to what the Lakers have been trying to address already. Siegel noted the Lakers were interested in adding wing players at the trade deadline. and adding some of that help through the draft could align with that need.
At the same time, the priority for the frontcourt feels harder to ignore. Siegel said adding to the center rotation is likely a priority for the Lakers, “especially knowing how Doncic likes to play.”
When the draft arrives, the Lakers will have to decide how to use the 25th pick. After that, the offseason doesn’t end—it shifts. The biggest two free agents Siegel pointed to were Austin Reaves and LeBron James. with the decisions that follow likely to determine how much of the roster’s future gets settled immediately and how much waits.
The question, at this stage, is whether Los Angeles can turn those late-first-round possibilities into the specific improvements it needs—without losing sight of what comes next in free agency.
Los Angeles Lakers NBA Draft 25th pick Brett Siegel Taris Reed Jr. Andre Drummond comparison UConn Koa Peat Joshua Jefferson Iowa State Isaiah Evans wing shooting Luka Doncic free agency Austin Reaves LeBron James Clutch Scoops ClutchPoints
25th pick and they’re talking about bigs again… wild.
I only caught the part about Klutch and then everyone was like “yep that’s the pick” lol. If Austin Reaves is the pressure point, why are we drafting other guys instead of keeping what we got?
They said Taris Reed Jr is like Andre Drummond but “looser and more elusive,” so basically Drummond 2.0? Sounds good I guess. Also pick-and-roll big with Luka Doncic—last I checked the Lakers don’t have Luka, so how does that even matter.
Brett Siegel pitching “four targets” late in the first round feels like horoscope stuff. UConn big, Klutch connection, wing shooting… cool but what about defense? And why is Isaiah Evans even in the conversation if they still need size, seems backwards. I’m just saying, Lakers gonna Lakers.