The Lakers kicked off the offseason with a focus on enhancing their roster depth.
They aimed to boost their athleticism.
Another goal was to infuse some youth into the team.
After trading up in the draft with the Knicks, the Lakers successfully met all three objectives by selecting Cameron Carr from Baylor with the 24th overall pick in the NBA Draft on Tuesday.
Carr had two years at Tennessee before playing the 2025-26 season at Baylor. He averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks over 34 games, logging about 33.7 minutes per game.
Leading up to the draft, there wasn’t much anticipation for Carr to still be available by the time the Lakers picked.
Most major publications projected him to go somewhere between 15th and 20th, outside the lottery picks.
However, he fell to the Lakers, who moved up a spot on draft day to snag him from the Knicks.
Where Carr Shines
Carr’s shooting from beyond the arc and his athleticism are definitely his standout qualities, which could transition well to the professional level.
He shot 37.4 percent for the Bears last season, with over 40 percent on catch-and-shoot threes, attempting about 6.1 threes per game.
And while his shooting is a plus, he’s not just a basic shooter. Carr can reposition, curl off screens, and he exhibited potential as a pull-up shooter in college.
He’s skilled at using his 3-point shooting threat to create easy scoring chances, hitting 60.2% from inside the arc.
He excelled at exploiting defensive closeouts, cutting into open spaces near the basket when defenders overcommitted, often using his athleticism for impressive dunks.
Carr also showcased remarkable agility with the second-best lane agility time (10.46 seconds), and he boasted both the second-highest standing vertical jump (38 inches) and the third-highest maximum vertical jump (42.5 inches) at last month’s NBA Combine. His explosiveness and length make him a notable threat in transition and as a finisher around the rim.
Though he has room to grow defensively, he demonstrated the ability to be disruptive with his vertical leap and wingspan (the longest among players under 6-foot-6 at the combine) to block shots.
Areas for Improvement
The primary aspects Carr needs to develop relate to his strength and overall frame.
At the combine, he weighed in at 184.4 pounds, the lightest among players over 6 feet 3 inches.
This lack of strength was evident on both sides of the ball.
He can be easily pushed off the driving lane, which complicates finishing at the rim, and when defending against larger guards or forwards—who he’ll need to guard in the league—he struggles to maintain position.
Building strength and improving his physicality are essential for him to be an effective defender at the NBA level.
His shot-blocking skills in college showcased his height and timing, and with more consistent effort, those attributes could translate to better performance defensively.
Offensively, he wasn’t really a creator for himself or others for various reasons. His ability to read defenses left plenty to be desired, though he could make simple passes.
Significance and Expectations
The Lakers might be the perfect fit for Carr, given their roster filled with playmakers, led by star guard Luka Doncic. This setup could allow Carr to thrive given he won’t be expected to carry the same load as at Baylor.
Doncic can create open shots for Carr, who excelled in that scenario in college, and can also assist him with alley-oops and cuts to the basket.
If free agents Austin Reeves and LeBron James return to the Lakers, it would provide Carr even more chances to play to his strengths as an off-ball scorer.
The team could benefit from enhanced defensive capabilities on the wings, but Carr has the tools to excel defensively if he builds strength and commits to consistent effort.
Depending on how the rest of the offseason unfolds for the Lakers, Carr is likely to find a spot in the rotation early in the season—at the very least, he should be a viable option.
Draft Grade: B+
The primary concern regarding Carr is his lack of strength, which affects his potential on both ends of the floor.
However, his ability to shoot threes, coupled with his slashing, length, and athleticism, positions him to make an immediate impact as he develops physically.
Despite the areas needing improvement, drafting him late in the first round was a solid value pick for the Lakers.
