Just as the Los Angeles Lakers appeared to be finding their rhythm to close the regular season, momentum has quickly unraveled.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, and expected to miss time into the postseason, the Lakers have dropped three straight games.
LeBron James, Marcus Smart, and Jaxson Hayes were also unavailable on Tuesday night, as Los Angeles suffered another heavy defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 123-87 loss dropped the Lakers to 50-29 on the season, sliding them to the fourth seed in a tightly contested Western Conference.
Lakers Facing Pivotal Offseason as Injuries Expose Roster Questions
While the immediate priority remains securing playoff positioning, the recent stretch has highlighted deeper roster questions that could shape a pivotal offseason for the franchise.
Several contracts are set to come off the books, including LeBron James’ $52.6 million salary, potentially creating close to $50 million in cap space.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that the Lakers are not expected to pursue another star outside of James, who could still return on a more team-friendly deal.
Instead, the organization is expected to prioritize retaining key contributors such as Reaves, Hayes, and Luke Kennard.
At the same time, the NBA Draft presents a cost-effective opportunity for Los Angeles to strengthen the roster while maintaining financial flexibility.
The Lakers currently control their 2026 first-round pick and are projected to select toward the back end of the round.
In his latest mock draft, The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann projects the Lakers selecting Florida forward Thomas Haugh with the 24th overall pick.
“Seeing as the stewardship of offensive possessions is more or less accounted for in Lakerland for the next several years with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves piloting the ship, their target should be multifaceted players with low waste and low errors who also play with a high motor and high feel,” Mann wrote.
“Haugh is exactly that, although his virtues are so obvious that it’s possible that he won’t be available for Los Angeles here. If he is, the versatile Gator forward should be enough of a spacer, cutter, and passer on offense, and also a dogged worker on defense, to fit what the new leadership is looking for.”
Thomas Haugh Emerges as Potential Frontcourt Fit for LA
Across 34 games this season, Haugh averaged 17.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 block, while shooting 46.0% from the field and 32.6% from three-point range on 5.2 attempts per game.
The 6-foot-9 forward enjoyed a breakout junior season, despite Florida exiting the NCAA Tournament in the second round against Iowa.
With the Lakers having long lacked consistent size and physicality in the frontcourt, Haugh represents a clear positional fit.
The 22-year-old projects as a player capable of contributing early on both ends of the court, combining maturity with long-term upside as a late first-round option.
He recorded 20 or more points on 13 occasions this season, including two 27-point performances. He also posted four double-digit rebounding games and seven multi-block outings.
“Teams are excited about Haugh’s well-rounded game,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote in March, projecting the Florida forward as a lottery pick. “He’s a terrific transition player and straight-line driver as a great run-and-jump athlete.”
“It’s hard to find wing/forwards who are this big, this athletic and this skilled. He profiles more as a role player at the next level, but one who could provide some positional flexibility and versatility.”
With the Lakers expected to build around Doncic and Reaves, alongside a potential final stretch with James, the need for another high-usage star may be limited.
Instead, dependable role players with versatility and motor, like Haugh, could address long-standing roster gaps.
If Los Angeles retains its pick, the late first-round range offers several intriguing options, with Haugh standing out as a strong candidate to bolster the frontcourt.
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