LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers may be spending their final months together, with the 22-time All-Star ticketed for free agency and the franchise seemingly ready to build around Luka Doncic for the longer term.
James, a four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer, will leave a void that no one player can replace. But the son of a former All-Star and scoring champion may lighten Doncic's load if the Lakers draft him in June.
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Bleacher Report's latest mock draft has the Lakers selecting USC Trojans guard Alijah Arenas -- the son of Gilbert Arenas -- with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 draft.
It would be something of a gamble, as Arenas has played only seven games this season. Last April, Arenas had to be put in a medically-induced coma following a car crash, and he required surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee.
However, Arenas has scored 78 points in his past three games, including a 24-point showing with a game-winning shot over Penn State earlier this month.
Alijah Arenas for the win 🔥🔥 @USC_Hoops pic.twitter.com/C5w7V73BaQ
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) February 8, 2026
"(Arenas') tape shows eye-opening self-creation with sharp handles, shiftiness and footwork. He has joystick movement, getting to spots and keeping defenders off balance," Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote. "Given his flashy dribble and ambitious moves, his shotmaking confidence and potency are unsurprisingly high."
If Arenas stays hot and helps USC get into the NCAA Tournament, the freshman's stock will only rise -- as will the chances that he can form part of the Lakers' plans in a post-LeBron James era.
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