Cameron Carr, you are a Los Angeles Laker.
The purple and gold addressed one of their critical offseason needs through the 2026 NBA Draft Tuesday, selecting the junior guard from Baylor with the 24th pick, which they acquired in a trade with the New York Knicks. Filling a vital need in the backcourt with room to grow, Carr is poised to be a solid contributor to head coach JJ Redick’s rotation.
Lakers Draft High-Flying Sharpshooter in Baylor’s Cameron Carr
Carr’s Prospect Profile and Fit With LA
An athletic 6’5” guard and a scintillating perimeter scorer, Carr broke out for the Baylor Bears after two seasons at Tennessee. In 34 starts, he averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists while shooting 49.4% from the field, 37.4% from three and 80.1% from the free-throw line. He also boasts a 42.5-inch max vertical, making him an electrifying addition for a team that thrives on the run. For a Lakers team that has prioritized lob threats this offseason, they certainly get a unique one in Carr.
Cameron Carr is joining the Lakers🔥
He dunking on the entire NBA with that 42.5-inch vertical pic.twitter.com/a19Y20WYOb
— Talkin Josh (@TalkinJosh) June 24, 2026
Aside from Carr’s three-level scoring, the 21-year-old holds his own defensively, having averaged 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals this past season. He may still get pushed around with his 184-pound frame, but his activity on that end is encouraging for the Lakers, whose supporting cast primarily featured one-way talents.
Despite Carr’s promising potential on both ends, he still needs to work on his playmaking, shot selection and ball security. Those improvements should come with time by learning from more established veterans in Luka Doncic and—should they return—Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard, among others.
Love the Cameron Carr pick for the Lakers. He was a projected top-20 pick that slipped. 6-5 with a 7-1 wingspan. Good shooter. Also a lob threat. Second-highest vertical among guards (42.5 inches). Tools to be a good defender. Checks athleticism, length boxes on perimeter.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) June 24, 2026
What’s Next for the Lakers
The team may still look to add young prospects around the edges, either by trading into the second round (June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN) or signing undrafted prospects to either two-way or Exhibit 10 deals. Having shored up part of their backcourt depth, president Rob Pelinka and the Lakers brass should look to add more talent in the next 24 hours before pivoting to the all-important free agent class.
© Chris Jones-Imagn Images
