{"id":181816,"date":"2026-03-16T15:53:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T19:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=181816"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:53:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T19:53:26","slug":"2026-nba-draft-4-march-madness-bigs-fit-lakers-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-nba-draft-4-march-madness-bigs-fit-lakers-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NBA Draft: 4 March Madness Bigs That Fit The Lakers\u2019 Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

With March Madness upon us, now is the perfect time for NBA scouts and fans to monitor premier talent competing in the NCAA Tournament. With one first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and several glaring needs to address, here\u2019s an overview of four prospects the Los Angeles Lakers could consider.<\/span><\/p>\n

2026 NBA Draft: 4 March Madness Bigs That Fit The Lakers\u2019 Needs<\/h2>\n

Lakers\u2019 Needs Ahead of 2026 NBA Draft<\/h3>\n

Even with roughly 15 games remaining in the regular season (ahead of what\u2019s hopefully a deep playoff run), the Lakers\u2019 biggest needs are undeniably up front. <\/span>Deandre Ayton<\/span><\/a> appears to have <\/span>turned a corner<\/span><\/a> amid a season of inconsistency. <\/span>Jaxson Hayes<\/span><\/a> has made a positive impact as the primary backup five. And <\/span>Maxi Kleber<\/span><\/a> has surprised many with his decent spot minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, Hayes and Kleber are set to enter free agency while Ayton has an $8 million player option at the end of this season, meaning the team\u2019s depth in the middle could very well change again. Combine that with the uncertain future of <\/span>LeBron James<\/span><\/a> and the pending free agency of <\/span>Rui Hachimura<\/span><\/a>, and the Lakers could target prospects at the four in addition to the five.<\/span><\/p>\n

With all that in mind, the following four prospects have all flashed first-round potential and could play key roles toward their teams\u2019 respective title pursuits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Patrick Ngongba II – 6\u201911\u201d, C, Duke<\/h3>\n

Potentially returning for March Madness after missing the ACC Tournament with foot soreness, <\/span>Patrick Ngongba II<\/span><\/a> is a <\/span>sturdy, defensive-minded big<\/span><\/a> with a growing offensive game. He protects the paint well with an average of 1.1 blocks per game, and his reported 7\u20194\u201d wingspan allows him to disrupt passing lanes and crash the glass early and often.<\/span><\/p>\n

Offensively, Ngongba is an efficient interior scorer (66.4% 2PT) who gets buckets from the post and off of pick-and-rolls. He\u2019s also an intriguing playmaker (1.9 APG) who makes precise reads from the perimeter and in high-low situations. He has a lot to work on in regards to his shooting, mobility and overall health, but the Lakers could conceivably take a flier on yet another Blue Devil.<\/span><\/p>\n