New mock drafts from ESPN and The Athletic have the Los Angeles Lakers selecting 7-foot center Henri Veesaar in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Lakers hold the No. 25 pick after Sunday’s draft lottery.
Apart from being a menacing presence in the paint, Veesaar also offers a solid 3-point shooting option for any team. He recorded 42.6% from long range last season, averaging 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 31 games for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
His functionality on both ends of the floor could make him a useful fit for the Lakers, who have repeatedly lacked size and 3-point shooting over the last two seasons. Los Angeles was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs in 2024. They signed DeAndre Ayton the following offseason.
This season, they made it to the Western Conference semifinals, where the OKC Thunder swept them out of the playoffs. Ayton’s signing proved effective; he played 72 games, averaging 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, shooting 67.1%. He played 10 playoff games, recording 10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds.
While the Lakers were able to address their deficiency at the center spot, they suffered another setback, losing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to injuries ahead of the playoffs. Reaves missed four games in the first round while Doncic was sidelined throughout the postseason.
The team also faces uncertainty regarding Ayton’s future. The center has an $8 million player option for the 2026-27 season. He was noncommittal when asked about his player option. With uncertainty surrounding their interior depth, drafting Veesaar makes even more sense for Los Angeles.
What NBA insiders have said about the Lakers potentially drafting Henri Veesaar?
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote that Veesaar could address the Lakers’ need at the center position and could potentially become an upgrade over DeAndre Ayton.
“The most obvious need is at center, where they stand to upgrade beyond the mercurial DeAndre Ayton,” Woo wrote. “Veesaar would upgrade their skill level and add a floor-spacing element that the roster lacks up front.”
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote that Veesaar’s size and floor-spacing ability make him a fit for the Lakers:
“At 7-foot, Veesaar moves very well for his size and also has a high-end skill set that involves both passing (as he averaged 2.1 assists per game) and shooting from distance, as he hit 42.6 percent of his 3-point attempts per game.”
While teams continue to mull over the 7-foot center, he is committed to getting to the NBA and announced that he will not be returning to North Carolina for a final season.
“I’m all-in on staying in the draft,” Veesaar said. “It’s 100% my decision to stay. I think it’s the right decision, basketball-wise.”
The Tar Heels were eliminated in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, losing 82-78 in overtime to the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams.
Read More: Luka Doncic Sums Up Lakers’ Feelings With Firm Response to Potential Austin Reaves Trade
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