The Los Angeles Lakers face a critical offseason, with uncertainty surrounding several key frontcourt players. Deandre Ayton has struggled with consistency throughout the 2025-26 campaign, while Jaxson Hayes is set to enter free agency.
Even with Ayton holding an $8.1 million player option for next season, the Lakers’ depth in the middle could look drastically different come next fall. That reality has the front office turning its attention toward the 2026 NBA draft.
Why the Lakers Could Target Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II in the 2026 NBA Draft
With one first-round pick projected to land in the back end of the opening round, the Lakers have been linked to several big men who could provide an immediate impact while developing into long-term rotation pieces. Among the most intriguing prospects is Duke’s Patrick Ngongba II, a 6-foot-11 center who has shown flashes of becoming a defensive anchor with a growing offensive game.
His combination of size, strength, and basketball IQ could make him the perfect insurance policy for a Lakers team desperate for frontcourt stability.
MORE: Udonis Haslem Blasts Bucks Star’s Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Attempt to Return: ‘HELL NO’
According to NBA draft analyst Sean Deveney, Ngongba’s recent resurgence has put him squarely on the Lakers’ radar. “Ngongba is back in the mix after a foot injury, and a strong close to the season could firm him up as a legit first-rounder,” Deveney wrote in a recent mock draft. “He has the size, skill, and defensive chops, but does he have the rim-running athleticism teams want?”
That question about athleticism is fair, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. This season, Ngongba has averaged 10.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 60.9% from the field. His reported 7-foot-4 wingspan allows him to disrupt passing lanes, crash the glass, and protect the rim with authority.
More importantly, he’s shown the ability to make plays from the perimeter and in high-low situations, averaging 2 assists per game as a big man.
Ngongba’s efficiency as an interior scorer stands out most. He’s converting 67.1% of his 2-point attempts, getting buckets from the post and off pick-and-rolls with veteran-like patience. Unlike typical explosive rim runners, Ngongba uses power, positioning, and touch around the basket to score.
His game is reminiscent of Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton, another undersized center who maximizes his impact through basketball intelligence rather than pure athleticism.
For the Lakers, Ngongba represents exactly the type of value they need to find late in the first round. He’s not a flashy prospect who will dominate highlight reels, but he’s a winning player who understands his role and executes it at a high level.
MORE: LeBron James Hypes Up Bronny James’ Impressive 26-Point G League Night: ‘Going NUTS Right Now’
His defensive versatility, rebounding prowess, and efficient interior scoring would complement Luka Dončić’s offensive brilliance while providing the toughness the Lakers have lacked at times this season.
Whether Ngongba’s athleticism concerns drop him into the Lakers’ range remains to be seen. But if he’s available when the Lakers are on the clock, don’t be surprised if Rob Pelinka pulls the trigger on a player whose skill set, defensive instincts, and basketball IQ scream “winning player.”
