Lakers add Cameron Carr at No. 24, with draft evaluators praising the fit

The Los Angeles Lakers used the No. 24 pick to select Cameron Carr, a choice that several draft evaluators described as a smart one for their board. The selection drew praise not just for the player, but for what it suggests about how the Lakers are navigating a draft that, in the view of many analysts, may be one of the deepest in recent years.

In the coverage of the pick, Yahoo Sports reported that draft experts “loved” the Lakers’ decision to take Carr at No. 24. That kind of reaction matters because the late first round is often where teams either find developmental value or lose ground if the evaluation gap between teams is too wide. When multiple evaluators converge on a positive grade, it can be an early sign that a club’s scouting process is aligned with the broader market.

The Lakers’ draft night decision also carried broader context. The same report framed this NBA Draft as one of the deepest in recent years, an attribute that can influence the way teams approach the middle and back end of the first round. In a deep class, teams are more likely to find prospects who can contribute in different ways, whether that means immediate role minutes, roster flexibility, or a longer development timeline.

Carr’s selection, then, represents both an individual bet and a strategy statement. From a team-building perspective, drafting in the 20s often asks for patience without sacrificing upside. The public-facing read from evaluators was that Carr’s profile and potential ceiling made him available at a spot where the Lakers were comfortable taking him, even amid the overall talent density of the draft.

Still, the long-term verdict on any late first-round pick depends on development, fit, and how quickly a prospect can translate strengths to the NBA level. The Lakers, like every team, will have to determine how Carr should be integrated, what specific skills they want him to prioritize, and how he will earn trust in live-game situations. Those answers usually arrive over months, not minutes.

What to watch next is how Carr is used in the months following the draft, including how the Lakers map his development plan into training-camp work and early-season rotation decisions. Given the positive reaction from draft experts around the selection, the immediate storyline will be whether the Lakers can turn that perceived value into tangible growth on the court.