​Two Lakers Prospects Turning Heads at NBA Summer League
The Los Angeles Lakers head into the 2026 Summer League with two standout young talents at the center of their future plans: Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero. Carr, the club’s most recent first-round pick at No. 25 in the draft, is already showcasing the potential to become a foundational piece for the Lakers’ trajectory. Thiero, in his second professional season, spent his first year largely in the G-League, and his Summer League performance is signaling that he could become a crucial rotational asset for the team.
Carr appears to be a notably wiry guard who also has the length to slide into small forward when needed. His playmaking ability off the dribble and his off-the-ball shooting threat give him multiple ways to impact the floor. While he showed proficiency driving to the basket and creating for himself, his perimeter shooting needs continued refinement. Nonetheless, his overall polish and basketball IQ suggest he could grow into a versatile wing who can contribute as both a scorer and facilitator for the Lakers in the coming years.
Thiero, meanwhile, is leveraging his size and athleticism to make his mark as a forward who can defend multiple positions and contribute across the stat sheet. With his length and explosiveness, Los Angeles is counting on him to become a dependable rotational option who can guard wings, grab rebounds, and provide material rim protection. Thiero’s tournament presence in Summer League highlights his potential to be a disruptive defensive player who can also crash the glass and threaten the seam with timely lobs and finishes. He is tracking as a high-motor contributor who can impact games without needing heavy usage, an attribute the Lakers covet as they balance playmaking with spacing.
The Summer League showcased Carr’s ability to generate offense in the half-court and in transition. In his debut, he poured in 18 points across 29 minutes, converting 7 of 13 from the floor. He demonstrated a comfortable handle and the confidence to attack off the bounce, displaying intent and poise beyond his years. His only notable blemish was a 1-for-5 clip from three-point range, but the overall trace of his performance suggested a potential to stretch defenses and make plays for teammates as he continues to develop his perimeter game. Although he missed the Lakers’ subsequent game, Carr remained a trending asset who could contribute to the team’s backcourt rotation or even emerge as a multi-positional wing as his shooting and decision-making mature.
Thiero has delivered two solid showings that align with the archetype the Lakers envisioned for him: a high-energy forward with the ability to impact the game on both ends. In the first Summer League contest against the Thunder, Thiero recorded four rebounds and four assists while shooting 8-for-14 from the floor in 30 minutes. His all-around production demonstrated his willingness to move the ball and push pace, while also showcasing finishing ability around the rim. In the following game against the Mavericks, he produced 15 points and four rebounds on a 4-for-12 shooting line. While the shooting percentage dipped, his shot-making and late-game awareness painted a clear picture of his ceiling: a do-it-all forward who can contribute as a scorer, facilitator, and defensive presence.
The Lakers face an important reality: wing depth and forward reliability remain areas of emphasis in the organization’s long-term plans. The development of both Carr and Thiero will be crucial as the team navigates cap constraints and drafts without ample future assets. Summer League performances have provided a glimpse into the potential paths for each player. Carr’s scoring versatility and shooting range suggest he could grow into a dynamic NBA wing who can create offense for himself and others. Thiero’s progression as a defensive ace, combined with his rim finishing and multi-positional usage, could position him as a valuable long-arm defender who can anchor rotations and contribute to the offense as a secondary creator.
In Las Vegas, the Lakers have clearly found two young players who are exceeding expectations and hinting at larger roles as they mature. Carr’s first-round pedigree and apparent offensive upside, paired with Thiero’s size, length, and vitality on both ends, offer hope that the Lakers will add impactful contributors from within their own ranks rather than relying solely on external acquisitions. If both players continue to develop their shooting, decision-making, and consistency, Los Angeles could have two versatile wings who help bridge the gap to a more competitive future.
As the Summer League progresses, Carr and Thiero are worth watching closely. Their growth trajectories could shape how the Lakers approach roster construction in the coming seasons, particularly as the team assesses how best to maximize wing presence and defense without surrendering offensive balance. The early returns from Summer League suggest that Carr and Thiero have the potential to fulfill such roles, possibly accelerating the Lakers’ evolution into a more dynamic and versatile squad.