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The Lakers entered the offseason wanting to add depth to their roster. 

They wanted to get more athletic.

And they wanted to add elements of youth.

By trading up in the draft order with the Knicks, the Lakers selected Baylor wing Cameron Carr with the No. 24 pick in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday night — accomplishing all three of their key goals.

Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocks in 33.7 minutes across 34 games in his lone season at Baylor in 2025–26 after spending two years at Tennessee.

Before Tuesday, Cameron Carr wasn’t expected to still be available when the Lakers were on the clock.

Most mock drafts from major media publications projected Carr to be selected just outside of the lottery, between picks 15–20. 

But he fell to the Lakers, who moved up one spot after a draft-day trade with the Knicks to acquire Carr’s draft rights.

Where Carr stands out

Carr’s 3-point shooting and athleticism are his clearest strengths that should immediately translate from college to the NBA. 

He shot 37.4% from beyond the arc with the Bears last season, including over 40% on catch-and-shoot 3s, while attempting 6.1 3s per game. 

And while standstill shooting is a strength, it isn’t the only time Carr proves dangerous from beyond the arc: He’s a threat spotting up, relocating, curling off screens, and even showed potential as a pull-up 3-point shooter in college. 

Carr showed he knows how to leverage his threat as a 3-point shooter into easier scoring opportunities inside the arc, where he shot 60.2%. 

He thrived with attacking closeouts or cutting into open space near the rim after defenders pressed up on him too much, using his athleticism to explode for dunks.

Carr had the second-fastest lane agility time (10.46 seconds), second-highest standing vertical leap (38 inches), and third-highest max vertical leap (42 ½ inches) at the NBA combine last month. He uses his explosive athleticism and length in functional ways as a threat in the open floor and above-the-rim finisher/lob threat when he has space in front of him. 

Even though he has several areas of improvements on the defensive end of the floor, Carr showed he can at least be a defensive disruptor by using his vertical pop and length (7 ¼-foot wingspan was the longest among players 6-foot-6 or shorter at the combine) to block shots.  

Where Carr needs to improve

The biggest areas the 6-foot-5 Carr needs to address are his strength and frame.

He weighed 184.4 pounds at the combine, which was the lightest among all players who measured at least 6-foot-3. 

Carr’s lack of strength hurts him on both ends of the floor.

He can get bumped off of his driving lanes pretty easily, making it harder for him to finish at the rim, and he can get bumped easily when trying to guard bigger guards and forwards — the types of players he’ll be expected to defend in the NBA — making it challenging for him to stay in front of his assignment. 

Carr will need to get stronger and improve his physicality to be a viable point-of-attack defender at the NBA level. 

His shotblocking in college showcased his use of timing and instincts in conjunction with his length and athleticism. With more consistent effort and attentiveness, those elements should show up in other areas on defense. 

Offensively, he wasn’t a true creator for himself or others for a variety of reasons: The lack of strength; not having much wiggle in his handle; not reading defenses the best (though he’ll make the simple pass).

Fit/Expectations 

The Lakers are as good a fit for Carr as any NBA team since they have the playmakers, led by superstar guard Luka Dončić, who’ll create easier looks for him as he takes on a lower-usage role than he had at Baylor. 

Dončić will create the spot-up 3s Carr thrived with during college, as well as connect with the uber-athletic Carr on alley-oops and cuts to the basket. 

If free agents Austin Reaves and/or LeBron James return to the Lakers, there will be even more playmakers who’ll allow Carr to focus on his strengths as an off-ball scorer.

The Lakers could use more defensive proficiency on the wings, but Carr has the tools to be a positive on that end of the floor if he gets stronger and provides consistent effort. 

Carr should be in the mix for a spot in the rotation at the start of the season depending on what happens with the rest of the Lakers’ offseason. At the very least, he’ll be a viable depth option. 

Draft grade: B+

Carr’s lack of strength, and how that affects his upside on both ends of the floor, is the biggest swing factor for his career. 

But his 3-point shooting, cutting, slashing, length and athleticism should make him an impactful player from Day 1 as he develops his body. 

Drafting a player of his caliber late in the first round was great value for the Lakers even with the clear areas of improvement.  

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Rick Brunson needs to see a longer body of work before he is ready to crown his son. 

Soon after the Knicks won Game 5 of the Finals to secure their first championship since 1973, Rick went viral for going out of his way to make it clear that he does not yet think Jalen Brunson is the best-ever Knick. Brunson had just delivered a Finals masterpiece for the ages, scoring 45 of the Knicks’ 94 points. 

“I love my son,” Rick said on ESPN not long after the final buzzer. “Patrick Ewing is the best Knick that I’ve ever witnessed.”

Rick expanded on that sentiment and explained why the claims from a plethora of fans that Brunson had elevated above any other Knick were premature. 

“You have to understand we strive for perfection,” Rick told New York Magazine. “I’ve always pushed him. I’m going to continue to push him. People get caught up in the things he’s done in a short period of time, which is tremendous. I mean, look, I’m a proud father, but you have to do this for a long time to be great. I tell him that all the time. You can’t take away from the great ones — the Walt Fraziers, the Willis Reeds, the Patrick Ewings. They did it for a long period of time. So we still have a long way to go, but we’ll get there.

“You always think about next season. That’s how his mind works. We want to get back to where we were this season and hopefully have a chance to compete for another championship. You want more.”

Rick was teammates with Ewing during his two brief stints with the Knicks as a player. 

Ewing has all the franchise’s statistical records and carried them through an iconic ‘90s era that fell just short of a title. Frazier was the engine of the two previous championship teams — in 1970 and ‘73 — and the King of Cool who later became a beloved announcer for the team. Reed was the anchor of those two championship teams, winning Finals MVP both times along with the NBA MVP award in ‘70 and delivered one of the most iconic moments in league history. 

One thing they all have in common is their longevity, not just in the league but with the Knicks specifically. Right now, that’s something that Brunson does not yet have. 

“Patrick Ewing, obviously, [that] I witnessed, is the greatest right now,” Rick said previously on “CBS Mornings.” “All-time leading rebounder, points, he has all the stats. But just the type of person Pat was, the type of teammate he was, the work ethic was similar. Pat was the hardest working guy we had and he was the best player. 

“Pat did it for 15 years, Jalen did it for four. I don’t rank these players by championships, although it’s great. Pat’s always been a champion in my book. As of today, Big Fella is my favorite.”

Opposites attract. At least sometimes.

Cameron Boozer’s big night at the 2026 NBA Draft led fans wanting to know more about his girlfriend, Yva Lauren Cao.

Here’s everything we know about her and how she’s been there to support Boozer through his big career moments.

She’s a cheerleader

Cao was raised by her Cuban parents in Miami and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.

There, she practiced cheer and earned All-Dade First Team honors.

The cheerleader often posts Instagram photos and TikTok videos about cheering and traveling with her teammates, which include getting ready for gamedays.

She’s currently a cheerleader at the University of Miami and pursuing a degree in public relations.

They have a sports rivalry

Cao and Boozer started dating in August 2023 and attended several proms together before their final one in May 2025.

But with Cao attending Miami and Boozer playing at Duke, the two had a sports rivalry this past season.

Cao cheered at several Miami football games in the 2025 season, including the national championship against Indiana in January 2026.

Boozer, meanwhile, made a name for himself at Duke, averaging 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in his lone season with the Blue Devils.

Despite their rivalry, Cao still attended Duke games last season and shared posts tied to Boozer’s performances. Before a March Madness game, Cao posted a shirt featuring Boozer’s No. 12 jersey.

The cheerleader also made headlines for her gameday fashion, sharing images to Instagram with custom boots and the words “Boozer” on them during March Madness.

She was at his side for the 2026 NBA Draft

Cao was also at Boozer’s side for his greatest accomplishment yet.

The cheerleader went to Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 23 for the 2026 NBA Draft, where Boozer was drafted No. 3 overall by the Grizzles.

Wearing a red dress, Cao was the last person Boozer hugged before going on stage to greet NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

Cao also shared a message with her boyfriend on his draft night.

“Memphis just gained the best there is!!” Cao wrote on a photo of Boozer at the draft. “So proud of you and beyond grateful to watch your dreams become reality.”

“Your talent is undeniable, but who you are is what makes me proudest. I love you endlessly. This is only the beginning. Here we gooo.”

Boozer joins a Grizzles team in desperate need of a spark after a woeful 25-57 season, and will instantly become a key piece for head coach Tuomas Iisalo.

And who knows, maybe Cao will make some trips to Memphis.

Austin Reaves is staying in Hollywood.

Confirmed by The California Post, Reaves intends to sign a four-year, $185 million contract to the LA Lakers — the only franchise he’s ever played for.

After declining his $14.9 million player option, Reaves will get the maximum contract extension he was wanting. He will have a player option for the final season.

Reaves’ new contract is the largest in NBA history for an undrafted player.

Reaves is set to make $41.3M in 26-27; $44.6M in 27-28; $47.9M in 28-29; and $51.2M (player option) in 29-30.

One of the most sensational stories in the NBA, Reaves had a four-year college career that began with two seasons at Wichita State. He transferred to Oklahoma and averaged 18.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game as a senior — albeit on an inefficient 30.5% from three.

He went undrafted in 2021 and was set to sign a two-way contract with the Lakers before that was upgraded to a standard contract in September, a month before the NBA season was set to begin.

As the Lakers stumbled in Reaves’ rookie season to a 33–49 record, he asserted himself as a part of the rotation after appearing in 61 games (19 starts) and averaging 7.3 points in 23.2 minutes per game.

He continued his rise the following season, playing in 64 games (22 starts) and averaging 13.0 points in 28.8 minutes per game. He also emerged as a dead-eye shooter from deep, knocking down 39.8% of his threes as the Lakers made the Western Conference finals.

The 2023–24 season is when Reaves truly asserted himself as a core part of the Lakers. He played in all 82 games (57 starts) and bumped his scoring average to 15.9 points on 11.5 shots per game, including knocking down 36.7% of his threes.

He continued to get better every season, averaging 20.2 points per game in 2024-25 while starting in all 73 games he played. Reaves also proved his worth as an off-ball guard when he combined with Luka Doncic to give the Lakers one of the more dominant scoring backcourts in the league.

All that hard work culminated in a major breakout season this past year. If not for a few injuries, Reaves played at an All-Star level when he averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game on 36% shooting from deep.

With LeBron James missing the early part of the season, Reaves carried the Lakers to a 13–3 record before the calendar flipped to December. He averaged 32.0 points per game in six October games (including a 51-point performance against the Kings) and 26.9 points per game in 10 November games.

Now Reaves has his maximum contract and the Lakers have made it clear that they’re building around Doncic and Reaves as their core moving forward. Whether two offensively talented guards with limited defense is enough to win a title remains to be seen, but the Lakers have made it clear which direction they’re choosing to go in.

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As his first big move as president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, Mike Gansey selected Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft. While getting another consensus draft faller a la Tyrese Maxey in 2020 is certainly cause for excitement, it’s possible the Sixers could be done for now. The team does not currently have a selection in Wednesday night’s second round. Philadelphia’s 47th overall pick was sent out as part of the 2021 trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire George Hill. Subsequent trades had the pick move along to Phoenix and now New York, following a deal last night between the Suns and Knicks for Phoenix to move up into the first round and select Koa Peat with the 30th overall pick.

However, things could change on the second round front for the Sixers. In comments following the first round, Gansey indicated the team may be trying to acquire a selection in tonight’s second round.

The Sixers currently have 11 players under contract: Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow, Trendon Watford, Dalen Terry, Jabari Walker, Justin Edwards, Adem Bona, and Johni Broome. Barlow, Watford, and Terry are club options, while Walker and Bona are non-guaranteed deals. Obviously, Philon will take a 12th spot when he signs a contract. Gansey also mentioned last night the team has had contact with the representatives for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes, so bringing those guys back in free agency is definitely on the team’s radar. However, as Gansey said, there’s certainly room for a second-rounder to enter the mix.

Historically, teams are much more willing to move second-round picks, as those obviously don’t carry nearly the same value as first-round selections. Early indications are that nothing will be different this year.

We’ll see what happens tonight, but if Gansey and the Sixers are motivated, it appears the opportunities will be there to acquire a pick in the second round. Stay tuned.

The 2026 NBA Draft had enough talent to make a lot of teams happy. My instant draft grades included eight A’s and only three C’s. Teams made sensible decisions throughout the first-round that went about as we expected. In fact, my final mock draft was determined to be the most accurate one on the internet. A lifetime of having no actual skills led to this moment.

I have to admit there were no actual losers from the first-round of the draft — just a few teams where I would have done something different with the pick. Most of my analysis is informed by my evaluations from my final big board. I always believe the draft is about chasing the best player available, while free agency and trades are where teams should maximize fit.

Let’s dive into some post-draft analysis for our winners and “losers” from round one. Check back in a few years and feel free to call me out on whatever I got wrong.

Winner: Memphis Grizzlies

If you read this site, you know I love Cameron Boozer by now. I think he’s going to be the best player from this draft, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s one day competing for MVPs. I realize that’s a crazy amount of pressure to put on an 18-year-old, but this is the trajectory Boozer has been on from a young age. The Grizzlies landed a franchise player, and if Zach Edey can stay healthy, I think this front court will be totally dominant.

I didn’t love what the Grizzlies did with the second pick, trading back twice and landing another power forward in Karim Lopez, who I wasn’t super high on. Whatever. The Grizzlies’ front office is way smarter than I am. Memphis walked away with the best player in the draft, and that makes them the biggest winner.

Winner: Oklahoma City Thunder

The rich get richer. The Thunder drafted Michigan center Aday Mara at No. 12 and then traded up for Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz at No. 16 to address the two small holes that existed within their roster. Mara is a giant at 7’3 with a 9’9 standing reach, and he gives OKC another big body to throw at Victor Wembanyama in future playoff matchups. Mara doesn’t have much coverage versatility defensively, but he’s very good in drop, and he’s entering an ideal scenario for a drop big with so many nasty point-of-attack defenders in front of him. The Thunder were also hurting for extra ball handling and shooting on last year’s playoff run amid injuries, and Stirtz checks both boxes. He’s a wicked shooter on- or off-the-ball, and he’s one of the draft’s best pick-and-roll operators. Sam Presti crushed it again.

Loser: Milwaukee Bucks

I feel bad for putting the Bucks here because their picks weren’t that bad. Brayden Burries is a nice off-ball guard who can shoot and defend, and I think he’ll be a solid fit next to emerging star (is that too rich?) Ryan Rollins. Nate Ament was not my favorite, but at No. 13, the value isn’t too bad. I just would have gone in a different direction with those picks. I really think the Bucks did well in the Giannis trade, but they have to nail their picks to make this rebuild work. I’m not sure they did that on Tuesday night.

Winner: Chicago Bulls

Bryson Graham knocked it out of the park in his first draft as a lead decision-maker in the NBA. Caleb Wilson was a no-brainer choice at No. 4. His combination of extreme athleticism, high-IQ, and elite work ethic is a great sign for his future. The Bulls went with Dailyn Swain at No. 15, and I’m also a big fan of that pick. Swain is a nasty slasher for a 6’7 wing with a tight handle and the ability to change directions on a dime. Chicago has a pretty big logjam of forwards now with Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Leonard Miller already on the roster, but I think Swain can play the two long-term if he makes any progress with his jump shot. The Bulls aren’t good enough to worry about fit; they just had to get the best available talent. I think they did that with both picks.

Loser: Los Angeles Lakers

A lot of people like Cam Carr, and I get it. He’s a very good off-ball shooter, he’s super long, and he’s got serious hops around the basket. I just worry he could be pigeonholed as a specialist because he’s not much of a ball handler or playmaker, and he struggles to defend at the point of attack with a thin frame. The Lakers needed some shooting, but they also had a lot of other holes, especially in terms of wing defense. I’m not sure how much Carr is really going to help.

Loser: Sacramento Kings

Listen, Darius Acuff was electric at Arkansas. John Calipari has coached a lot of great guards, and I’m not sure any of them had a better freshman year than Acuff. With that said, I’m a bit lower on his NBA projection because I think his defense is terrible and I’m not sure he’ll continue to be a 44 percent career three-point shooter. He could definitely make me look dumb because Acuff is an awesome floor general and a great scorer, but I liked some of the other guards more. The Kings also traded up to take Alex Karaban at the end of the first round, and he wasn’t in the top-45 of my board. I’m sorry, Kings fans! I want good things for you, so I hope your picks prove me wrong.

Winner: Detroit Pistons

I’ve been wanting to see what Cade Cunningham looks like in a less heliocentric role, and the Pistons traded up to deliver him an awesome young point guard. Ebuka Okorie has the best first-step in this class. The Stanford guard is lightning fast with the ball in his hands, putting pressure on the rim and getting the opposing defense in rotation. I was impressed by his shooting, and I think he defends bigger than his size, too. Okorie rules, and I love the fit in Detroit.

Winner: Golden State Warriors

I had Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 5 on my board, and this is a perfect landing spot for him. Yes, he’s going to be a 24-year-old rookie, but he’s a two-way forward with size, shooting, passing, and athleticism. Warriors fans should read my story on his inspiring journey to become a lottery pick.