Armed with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers opted to move up in the draft one spot to the No. 24 pick via trade with the New York Knicks. And once that pick was on the clock, the Lakers decided on Baylor wing Cameron Carr as their first round rookie for the 2026-27 season.
In addition to swapping picks, the Lakers also sent cash considerations to the Knicks. Cameron Carr joins the Lakers coming off a breakout junior season with the Bears after playing two years at Tennessee. It’s no surprise that the Lakers needed athleticism and shooting in the lineup and Carr fits that description.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what Carr brings to the roster, and a final draft grade for the Lakers after moving up to pick No. 24.
Lakers draft Cameron Carr
First off, to get a player like Carr in the late first round is a potential steal for the Lakers. He was projected to be gone by then as a possible lottery talent, and he checks off multiple boxes for the team. While the Lakers’ need for frontcourt depth is well-chronicled, size and consistent depth on the wings was kind of equally important.
Carr was one of the better 3-point shooters in the draft, something the Lakers need alongside Luka Doncic. He shot 40 percent from distance in his second season in college, and then connected on 37.4 percent of his long range attempts last year.
Defensively, Carr has the tools and ability to be an impact guy on the perimeter. He has a 7-foot-1 wingspan and is athletic. One of the problems the team had last season was they weren’t quick and athletic enough to guard opposing wings consistently. Carr will help address those issues.
But Carr is unique in his skill-set. He isn’t just a prototypical 3&D player. He is a legitimate lob threat as a guard. He can get out in transition and is able to finish. That’s exactly the type of player that will thrive alongside Doncic. Not to mention potentially having Austin Reaves and LeBron James feeding him the ball as well.
Obviously rotation minutes aren’t guaranteed, but Carr is coming into a situation where if he does play, he is going to see open 3-point shots and plenty of fast break opportunities.
During his final season in college at Baylor, Carr appeared in 34 games, moving into a full-time starting role after coming off the bench at Tennessee. He averaged a career-best 18.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 blocked shots with splits of 49.4 percent shooting from the field, 37.4 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 80.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
One of the biggest things that stands out about Carr’s numbers is his shot blocking. For a guard that’s 6-foot-5, those are impressive stats. You don’t really block many shots to begin with, let alone as a guard. And if the Lakers do bring Marcus Smart back for next season, he’ll have the perfect veteran mentor.
Overall, the Lakers came into the 2026 NBA Draft hoping to potentially add an impact player. And they found one in Carr. As already mentioned, he checks off multiple areas of need, and he was a lottery level talent.
The Lakers are scheduled to begin NBA summer league at the California Classic hosted by the Golden State Warriors over 4th of July weekend. After that, they’ll make the trek to Las Vegas. Carr is certainly going to be an intriguing player to watch next month.
Final draft grade: A
The post Lakers draft grade for Cameron Carr with No. 24 pick in 2026 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
