While it's not unusual for the Lakers to enter the offseason with plenty of roster questions, this summer is especially key for the franchise — it's their first offseason with Luka Doncic in the fold.
On Thursday, Los Angeles made its first acquisition of the 2025 offseason by selecting Adou Thiero with the 36th overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Lakers initially owned the 55th overall pick but moved up to the Bulls' 45th pick while also sending Chicago cash, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Then, they moved up again, sending No. 45 and cash to Minnesota for No. 36.
Thiero is set to bring a ton of athleticism to Los Angeles, which is soon to be under new ownership, as it pursues a title behind its new franchise player in Doncic.
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How will Thiero fit with the Lakers in 2025-26 and also the long-term? Here's a breakdown of the Lakers' roster for next season with their new NBA Draft addition.
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Lakers 2025-26 roster with Adou Thiero
Below is a look at Los Angeles' rostered players for 2025-26, including only players who are already under contract for next season — with the lone exception being James, who has a player option. However, the current expectation is that James will either accept that option or work out a different deal with L.A. to remain with the squad next season at age 40.
Dorian Finney-Smith also has a player option decision to make, while Christian Koloko is a restricted free agent and Jordan Goodwin has a team option. Alex Len, Jaxson Hayes, and Markieff Morris are all unrestricted free agents. While James is included in the roster projection below, those six players are not, although they could wind up returning to the Lakers.
| Player | Position | Height | Age | 2024-25 PPG |
| LeBron James | SF | 6-9 | 40 | 24.4 |
| Luka Doncic | PG | 6-6 | 26 | 28.2 |
| Rui Hachimura | PF | 6-8 | 27 | 13.1 |
| Austin Reaves | SG | 6-5 | 27 | 20.2 |
| Gabe Vincent | PG | 6-2 | 29 | 6.4 |
| Maxi Kleber | PF | 6-10 | 33 | 3.0 |
| Jarred Vanderbilt | PF | 6-8 | 26 | 4.1 |
| Dalton Knecht | G | 6-6 | 24 | 9.1 |
| Shake Milton | SG | 6-5 | 28 | 3.9 |
| Bronny James | G | 6-2 | 20 | 2.3 |
| Trey Jemison III | C | 6-10 | 25 | 2.6 |
| Adou Thiero | F | 6-6 | 21 | — |
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What Adou Thiero will bring to the Lakers
If there's one department where Thiero excels, it's athleticism. He was regarded as one of the draft's most explosive players, becoming an efficient scorer and great defender at Arkansas in 2024-25.
With Doncic around for the long-term, Los Angeles is going to need athletic wings and defensive stoppers to pair the superstar with. Should Adou Thiero pan out as a young player, that's what he'd bring. He averaged 1.6 steals per game last season, providing physicality and length from the frontcourt on the defensive end.
Thiero likely won't be a wing that JJ Redick can plug into his rotation from the start of the 2025-26 season, as he still has areas of his game to develop. He didn't truly break out until his third collegiate season, and Thiero never attempted more than 1.6 3-pointers per game in college, shooting only 25.6 percent from deep last season.
Shooting will be key to Thiero's development, especially with Doncic being the focal point of the Lakers' roster. One of the best passers in the league, Doncic has always been known for his ability to kick the ball out to shooters at an elite rate — meaning Thiero, outside of his athletic strengths and ability to score in the paint, will have to improve from deep.
But with Los Angeles lacking athletic wings on its current roster, Thiero can step in and be a nice defensive option for Redick while showcasing his elite finishing skills. Don't expect Thiero to do a ton in his rookie season, but long-term, the upside is there for the Lakers.
Adou Thiero stats
Here's a look at Thiero's stats over three collegiate seasons at Kentucky and Arkansas:
| Season | Team | Games | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
| 2022-23 | Kentucky | 20 | 9.7 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 34.5% | 33.3% | 69.7% |
| 2023-24 | Kentucky | 25 | 21.3 | 7.2 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 49.2% | 31.8% | 80.0% |
| 2024-25 | Arkansas | 27 | 27.5 | 15.1 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 54.5% | 25.6% | 68.6% |
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