[Saba Sports News] The Los Angeles Lakers originally held the 25th first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and widespread speculation swirled that they might trade away this selection. Instead of executing a larger blockbuster deal to land a seasoned veteran, the Lakers ultimately opted to trade up one spot from the 25th pick.
According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, the Lakers struck a draft-day trade with defending champion New York Knicks to acquire the 24th overall pick. They then used this 24th selection to draft Cameron Carr. This move signals a shift in the team’s drafting focus from frontcourt players to a promising young guard. The Lakers surrendered minimal assets in the swap, primarily cash considerations.
It is reported that Cameron Carr is the son of former NBA player Chris Carr. The 21-year-old guard kicked off his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, where he competed for two seasons before transferring to Baylor University for the 2025–26 campaign. At Baylor, Carr started all 34 games he appeared in, averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, with a 49.4% field-goal percentage and a 37.4% three-point percentage.
In my view, The Lakers had a clear target in mind when making this move: to further bolster their already talented backcourt rotation. Currently, the Lakers’ guard group features superstar Luka Dončić, rising young talent Austin Reaves, and defensive stalwart veteran Marcus Smart.