The Los Angeles Lakers traded up 10 spots in the second round of Thursday’s NBA Draft after striking a deal with the Chicago Bulls that included cash considerations. However, they were forced to pivot after their top choice was selected before their pick.
The intention behind the trade-up was thought to be Ryan Kalkbrenner, the towering rim-protecting center and four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, who surprisingly dropped out of the first round. The 7-foot-1 center possesses a mammoth 7-foot-6 wingspan and ranks as an elite rim protector, having blocked 399 shots over his collegiate career.
Unfortunately, the Lakers were beaten to the punch by the Charlotte Hornets at pick 34, and fans couldn’t help but poke fun at the Lakers’ plight. However, the Lakers later pivoted with a significant draft night trade.
NBA Fans Troll Lakers After They Miss Out on Center Ryan Kalkbrenner As Hornets Beat Them To Their Top Choice
According to the LA Times, “People around the league said the Lakers are trying to put themselves in a position to draft center Ryan Kalkbrenner out of Creighton University. Kalkbrenner is older at 23, but he stands at 7-1 and averaged 19.2 points and 8.7 rebounds last season, and he shot 65.3% from the field and 32% from three-point range.”
However, that plan was thwarted by the Hornets.
A Celtics fan wrote regarding the Lakers whiff, simply posting: “Womp Womp”
womp womp
— Celtics Lead (@CelticsLead) June 27, 2025
One fan wrote with a broken-heart emoji: “Kalkbrenner and Sion James were two of my favorite targets and now they’re gone.” James was picked at 33, also by the Hornets.
A Lakers fan site pleaded for Kalkbrenner, but turned out to be sorely disappointed by the news, later posting “NOOOO.”
Meanwhile, another fan pointed out that the Lakers, who badly needed to land a center, missed out on likely the most NBA-ready one remaining in the draft.
Lakers Fans after the Hornets took Ryan Kalkbrenner the last good center in the #NBADraft 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/76vYRchCrO https://t.co/1WxYM8cAER
— A̳A̳r̳o̳n̳ ☄️┆ ˗ˏˋ ✞︎ ˎˊ˗👨🍳`³⁰ (@Reigns_AAronn) June 27, 2025
Another fan expressed disappointment by posting: “I better not see Ryan Kalkbrenner pop up on my screen if it’s not the Lakers.”
The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed in principle to acquire the draft rights to Adou Thiero, the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, in a trade that is expected to be finalized at a later date. pic.twitter.com/2h0YxpwTFL
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) June 27, 2025
However, the Lakers executed a successful pivot, and they should be pleased with their trade-up for the draft rights of pick number 36, Adou Thiero out of Arkansas, as reported by the team’s official Twitter account.
According to the LA Times, “The Lakers and other NBA scouts compare the 220-pound Thiero to Knicks forward OG Anunoby, a three-and-D player that LA’s scouts thought might be drafted in the first round.”
