Lakers should draft Kentuckys Jayden Quaintance if available

The 2026 NBA Draft is on the horizon, bringing one of the most significant dates on the league’s calendar. Childhood dreams of making it to the NBA will be achieved. Teams will turn draft assets into tangible players who they hope will contribute to winning in the short- and long-term future. And in the background, teams will continue to explore the options that’ll help them achieve their goals for 2026-27. For the Lakers, who have a first-round pick in the draft (No.25), the opportunity the draft presents as it pertains to roster building can’t be whiffed on. In their pursuit of assembling a roster that’ll be competitive against the 2026 Western Conference champion Spurs and 2025 NBA champion Thunder, the Lakers have two main options for their first-round pick: trade it for a player who’s ready to compete for a title now alongside Luka Doncic or select a prospect whom they plan to develop and hope will help now and in the future. If the Lakers choose the latter, there isn’t a shortage of options.Toward the top of that list, should he be available for the Lakers to draft, is Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance.2025-26 stats (Kentucky): 5 points (57.1% shooting), 5 rebounds, 16.8 minutes in four games2024-25 stats (Arizona State): 9.4 points (52.5% shooting — 60% on 2-pointers, 18.8% on 3-pointers), 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 29.5 minutes in 24 gamesMeasurements: 6-foot-9 (without shoes), 253 pounds, 7-foot-5 ¼ wingspan, 9-foot-1 standing reach  The defensive potential is what makes Quaintance such an intriguing prospect. His blend of size, length, athleticism, quick-twitch and strength made him a versatile and formidable defender in college. Quaintance can play drop coverage and prioritize protecting the rim with his long arms and leaping ability, as well as switch out on the perimeter and stick with opposing ball handlers because of his coordination, lateral-movement fluidity and quickness. And his strength makes it...