25. Los Angeles Lakers - Zuby Ejiofor
- 2025-26 stats (St. John’s): 16.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg
A center is the biggest need for the Lakers, especially if both Austin Reaves and LeBron James return to the team this offseason. Center depth is important, assuming DeAndre Ayton isn’t the long-term option. Former Big East Player of the Year Ejiofor has the best chance of the available bigs to stick around. He’s a quality defender who should be able to handle bigs, despite being around 6’9 and 6’10.
26. Denver Nuggets - Isaiah Evans
- 2025-26 stats (Duke): 15 ppg and 3.2 rpg
The wing position has quickly gone from an area of strength for the Nuggets to a weakness, with Christian Braun having a brutal playoff and not recovering from losing Michael Porter Jr. Evans has some weaknesses that could have him fall out of the first round but his biggest strength, his shooting ability and being able to create his own shot, will be perfect for Denver, who will want to take some pressure off Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on offense.
27. Boston Celtics - Allen Graves
- 2025-26 stats (Santa Clara): 11.8 ppg and 6.5 rpg
Despite not having MVP Jayson Tatum, the Celtics still managed to earn the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference. But they lost a lot of talent in an effort to shed salary, so they could be looking for an upside play. Graves was a freshman darling outside the high-major ranks and gives them spacing and an offensive option in the frontcourt.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit) - Bennett Stirtz
- 2025-26 stats (Iowa): 19.8 ppg and 4.4 apg
Point guard has been an area of need for the Wolves for some time, with Mike Conley effective but not a starter on a contending team. Stirtz, while not the greatest athlete in the draft, is one of the best pure PGs available after the lottery and won’t have as much usage, working alongside Anthony Edwards.
Add us as a preferred source on Google