The bad news continues to mount for the Los Angeles Lakers, with Austin Reaves now ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Reaves has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique injury, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting a recovery timeline of four to six weeks.
He joins Luka Doncic on the sidelines after the Slovenian was previously ruled out “indefinitely” with a left hamstring injury.
The Lakers had been building strong momentum to close the season, winning 16 of their last 19 games, but their outlook now appears far more uncertain.
Lakers Facing Uncertainty as Injuries Shift Focus Toward Offseason
Both Doncic and Reaves are expected to remain sidelined well into the playoffs, placing the Lakers’ postseason hopes in serious doubt.
As a result, attention is already beginning to shift toward the offseason.
Despite the possibility of significant cap space, with several contracts coming off the books, most notably LeBron James’ $52.6 million salary, expectations of major roster changes have been tempered.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that the Lakers are not expected to aggressively pursue another star outside of James.
Instead, the organization is expected to prioritize using its cap space to retain key contributors such as Reaves, Jaxson Hayes, and Luke Kennard.
James returning on a reduced deal remains a possibility, as does a new contract for Rui Hachimura.
At the same time, the NBA Draft presents a cost-effective path for the Lakers to strengthen the roster while maintaining long-term flexibility.
Los Angeles currently holds its 2026 first-round pick and is projected to select toward the end of the round.
In his latest mock draft, Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor has the Lakers selecting Duke center Patrick Ngongba with the 26th overall pick.
“Ngongba does the dirty work without complaining about it: set screens, run the floor, make the right read, protect the rim and do it all again the next play and the one after that,” O’Connor wrote. “Ngongba did it as the backbone of one of the best teams in the country before a foot issue derailed the end of his season, which played a factor in Duke’s inability to reach the Final Four.”
Patrick Ngongba Emerging as Late First-Round Option for Lakers
“He had two screws placed in his right foot during high school, then had lingering issues in his left foot as a freshman before his right foot became an issue again as a sophomore,” O’Connor added. “Those injuries are why Ngongba could be available at the end of the first round.”
Through 32 games this season, Ngongba averaged 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 60.6% from the field and 25.8% from three-point range.
After playing a limited role as a freshman, Ngongba has taken on increased responsibility following the departure of former Duke center Khaman Maluach, who was selected 10th in the 2025 NBA Draft.
That expanded role has allowed the 20-year-old to establish himself as a more consistent contributor and elevate his draft stock.
“Ngongba has turned into a weirdly polarizing player for scouts, with some very strongly appreciating his well-rounded game on both ends and thinking it will translate exceedingly well,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote.
Ngongba’s combination of size, passing ability, and defensive instincts has kept him firmly in late first-round discussions and could address a Lakers frontcourt that has lacked long-term stability in recent years.
The Lakers could also explore using their 2026 first-round pick in a trade for an established player. However, if they retain the selection, the late first-round range presents several intriguing options, with Ngongba standing out as a strong candidate.
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