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Amid new reports on growing internal drama with Jeanie Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers were predicted to add a coveted scoring wing player.
As presently constructed, this iteration of the Los Angeles Lakers hasa lot of holes. While it is still uncertain if they’ll fix any of their issues based on trade rumors before the deadline, the team could add a player over the summer who could play alongside Luka Doncic as a strong wing scoring threat.
According to a recent 2026 NBA Mock Draft article by Jonathan Wasserman from Bleacher Report, the Lakersare predicted to select Nate Ament from Tennessee with the 23rd overall pick.
The 6’10” freshman is currently averaging 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 18 games in whatis expected to be his lone collegiate season. Wasserman compared him to Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks for his length and versatility.
The Lakers kept a lottery pick since James joined the team in 2018, and while a recent report indicates the teamhad internal turmoil over the recent selection of Bronny James in 2024, they don’t have a strong history of addingdifference makers in the draft.
Lakers Mock Draft Pick: Nate Ament
Defense and shooting. Those are the two areas in which the Lakers need help. LukaDoncic appears to be their long-term future, but with LeBron James and Austin Reaves set to become free agents,while signs point to the latter staying with the team, defense and shooting are the characteristics they need and expect to target from now until the start of next season.
While Ament hasn’t proven to be the best three-point shooter in his lone college season with the Volunteers, as seen with so many other draft prospects, that can change once he enters the professional ranks.
“He’s capable in a number of areas that hint at a mismatch, like attacking in ball-screen situations, shooting off movement and rising over the top of defenders in the mid-range,” he wrote on Ament. “At this stage, he’s just not proficient in any one area, as he’s shooting 27.8 percent from three, 53.3 percent at the rim and a combined 32.6 percent in pick-and-roll and isolation situations.”
Hoop Herald
Nate Ament is maybe the most polarizing Freshman in this loaded class
Some love him, some are on the fence
Statistically he has been producing EVERY night for The Vols and the Upside is obviously there
We are BUYING STOCK and think he is top 5
On the season, Ament is putting up only 41.2/27.8/76.4 shooting splits, with major room for improvement.However, despite beingjust a freshman, he is secondon Tennessee in scoring and rebounding, while third in assists, steals, and blocks.
While like the Lakers, as seen with their current trade rumors, would hope his shooting numbers would be higher, the potential for Ament to be a game-changing wing player isthere. He also has the size to defend three positions on the court, and for Los Angeles, that could be a major upside on him as a prospect.
“Ament will ultimately have suitors that see enticing potential and are willing to wait on it,” Wasserman added. “And then there will be skeptics who see a lengthy project that will require too many things to go right for Ament to justify drafting near the lottery.”
As seen with Dalton Knecht, James, and Adou Thiero, the teamdoesn’t have a strong history of giving recent draft picks the chance to shine. But all expectationspoint to them needing to make changes tothis current roster, and that could very wellstart in this Lakers mock draft with Ament.
Lakers Drama With Jeanie Buss Amid Trade Rumors
While the Lakers remain hopefulto add a 3-and-D star before the trade deadline, a hope that seems to be fading as the days goon, a new report on the internal struggles of the organization has emerged and made numerous headlines since.
Writing for ESPN, Baxter Holmes detailed the recent history of Jeanie Buss as the head of the franchise,and the impact of some of the decisionsshe’s made before the teamis fully sold to Mark Walter, who bought a majority stakeof the team at a record-setting $10 billion valuation.
“Interviews with current and former Lakers staffers with direct knowledge of key events and sources close to and within the Buss family reveal the post-Jerry Buss era with the Lakers has been defined largely by sibling infighting and subterfuge, attempted coups and deep familial distrust,” Holmes wrote.
“Even after the sale closed, questions linger among some family members about whether the sale was in line with the family trust. And whether a sibling quietly took financial care of her allies and friends — at the expense of her own family.”
Holmes’ reporting also detailed Jeanie’s relationship, or lack thereof, with her brothers Joey and Jesse, who were also involved in the Lakers’ front office, and how their tenure with the team ended on quick terms.
Additionally, he wrote about how Buss didn’t think their franchise star, and the league’s all-time leading scorer, wasn’t grateful enough after they selected his previously mentioned son in the 2024 NBA Draft.
On the court, the Lakers havemajor issues. But off the court, things don’t seem to be going any better.
As the daysgo on, James’ future with the team, hopes of making a trade before the deadline, and their chancesat making a postseason run allfeel fleeting.