​With LeBron James and several rotation players departing in free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers have become notably younger this offseason. A majority of current rotation members are now in their mid-20s, and the club also boasts a couple of very young prospects expected to push into the rotation next season. The standout among those prospects is incoming rookie guard Cameron Carr, who was selected 24th overall in last month’s NBA draft. Carr impressed during the California Classic a few days ago, and in the Lakers’ opener at the main summer league in Las Vegas on Friday, he delivered 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting, along with two rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal in a 96-84 victory.
Guard Chris Mañon indicated this week that Carr is destined to be “a problem” for other teams in the league, as noted by Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I said it in one of my other interviews, he’s just super, super long and I feel like we haven’t really seen his full athletic ability yet,” Mañon said. “Yeah, he’s special for sure. He can definitely shoot over guys and score, like I said before. And I think once his body fills out, gains a little weight, he’ll be a problem for sure.”
Standing 6-foot-5 with a wingspan of roughly 7-foot-1, Carr’s jumper is difficult to contest or alter, and he showcased a 42.5-inch vertical leap at the NBA scouting combine. As Mañon alluded to, Carr does need to add some strength—he currently weighs 184 pounds—but once he does, it should benefit him on both ends of the floor. Like many incoming rookies, Carr has defensive areas to improve, but his ability to rotate into position to block shots and to disrupt plays with steals and deflections is already evident. He could potentially be ready to earn meaningful minutes for the Lakers this fall, especially given the team’s need for reliable 3-and-D players who can move athletically.
This piece originally appeared on LeBron Wire, highlighting Mañon’s assessment that Cameron Carr will “be a problem for sure” for the league. As the Lakers continue to rebuild their roster around a younger core, Carr’s early summer league performances and the praise from veteran teammates position him as a promising rising figure who could impact the team’s depth and defensive versatility in the upcoming season.