Lakers Predicted to Pick Explosive Guard After NBA Draft Combine
The Los Angeles Lakers are facing significant roster discussions in their offseason, with free agency decisions involving starters Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and LeBron James.
Of those three, James is an unrestricted free agent, but there have yet to be any details about his plans for next season. Will he remain a member of the Lakers, join another NBA team, or retire altogether?
Based on a recent report from The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Rui Hachimura is a player the Lakers will likely do their best to keep on the roster. He averaged 17.5 points per game in the postseason to give James some assistance while teammates Reaves and Dončić were injured.
Reaves is expected to draw major interest and offers from other teams, and it remains unclear if the Lakers will do everything they can to keep him in the lineup with Luka Dončić or if he’ll go elsewhere.
With his situation in mind, Los Angeles could opt to add a young, talented guard from this June’s draft to help out with any holes in the roster, or at least be a valuable backup.
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As the NBA Draft Combine proceeds in Chicago, Illinois, this week, prospects are auditioning their skills in scrimmage games and showing off their abilities in various drills. Among them, Texas Longhorns guard Dailyn Swain may have caught some teams’ attention, including the Lakers.
According to Bleacher Report’s new combine mock draft, the 20-year-old guard is comparable to Herb Jones, with his explosive finishing, average of 3.5 assists per game, and defensive playmaking. BR indicates he’ll become a more well-rounded “Swiss Army knife” with the skills he already possesses.
He averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 54.2 percent shooting from the floor this past season. Along with that, he’s got a winning resume. Texas appeared in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, reaching the Sweet 16 before their elimination.
At 6-foot-8, Swain would give the Lakers a bigger backup guard who could work well in situations with Dončić, Hachimura, and other lineups that JJ Redick utilizes. If LeBron decides to stay, that gives Swain a potential legendary mentor to learn from before King James officially retires.
However, it’s still way too early to fully project him at the No. 25 spot, especially with the potential for some of this year’s draft class to drop out and return for another season at college. Swain has been gaining a lot of interest, so there’s also the possibility he’ll be off the board before the Lakers get their pick.
The NBA Draft arrives on June 23 and 24 in Brooklyn, New York, with Lakers fans eagerly anticipating their next roster addition.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 4:52 PM.