Lakers hold pre-draft workouts as they look beyond a late first-round pick

The Los Angeles Lakers are continuing their pre-draft evaluation process with a set of workouts that includes guard Skyy Clark and wing Trey Kaufman-Renn, according to Yahoo Sports. The move reflects a common reality for NBA teams with limited draft capital, particularly when the available talent pool is considered strong well past the projected lottery tier.

The Lakers, who are working with a first-round selection but not multiple early additions, are still searching for roster upgrades that could come in the second round or even outside the draft entirely. In that framework, workouts serve as a second look for players who may not be viewed as top-20 locks but who could become rotation candidates after offseason development.

Yahoo Sports characterized the 2026 draft as one of the deepest in quite some time. That perception matters because it changes how teams plan, even when their picks are later. Instead of treating every “middle” selection as a roll of the dice, front offices can use early workouts to identify specific skill sets they believe can be developed to match their needs.

Skyy Clark’s inclusion in the workout group indicates that the Lakers are still evaluating backcourt options and ball-handling playmaking. For Kaufman-Renn, the fit reads as a search for size-and-shooting, positional versatility, and forward depth. While those are broad scouting categories, the common theme is clear: the Lakers are trying to add quality without assuming it will be available at their exact draft slot.

Because workouts can include multiple prospects, the list does not guarantee where any player will ultimately be selected, or even whether they will be drafted at all. Teams also sometimes invite players to get clarity on medical readiness, conditioning, and interview-style fit, items that rarely show up in public reporting. With that in mind, the most reliable takeaway is not a prediction, but the Lakers’ active scouting posture.

Looking ahead, the next step will be whether the Lakers’ evaluation results translate into a board strategy on draft night. If they identify clear targets later in the order, their plan could become more decisive once other teams reveal how quickly they move on certain archetypes. For fans, the immediate watch item is whether Clark or Kaufman-Renn appear as names linked to the Lakers’ later pick range, or whether Los Angeles uses the draft to secure someone else while continuing the workout process for undrafted free agent opportunities.