The Los Angeles Lakers made a strategic move in the 2025 NBA Draft by selecting Adou Thiero from Arkansas in the second round, despite not having a first-round pick. The Lakers traded from No. 55 to No. 45 and then negotiated with the Chicago Bulls to select Thiero at No. 36. Basketball Operations President Rob Pelinka highlighted Thiero's first-round talent and emphasized the need for a younger, more athletic roster. This proactive approach reflects the Lakers' commitment to improve their competitive edge for the upcoming season.
Adou was projected by our scouts as a first-round talent and so we were able to turn [pick number] 55, which is a late second round pick, to a high second round pick, to select a player that we had projected in the first round.
We just felt like one of the things we needed to address is to get younger and more athletic on the wings, and being able to get a player like Adou that can catch lobs from the corner when Luka is making paint decisions.
Collection
[
|
...
]