The Los Angeles Lakers are about to begin what could turn out to be a very consequential offseason. They’re projected to have tens of millions of dollars of salary cap space, as well as two future first-round draft picks to offer in a trade, and those resources could allow them to start to truly build a championship-caliber team around Luka Doncic.
L.A.’s biggest roster need this offseason is arguably an upgrade at the center position, and the realistic options in free agency and the trade market aren’t appealing. Therefore, it may have to rely on its first-round draft pick this year, which is No. 25 overall, as well as look at prospective undrafted free agents. The Lakers have been starting to work out prospects in this year’s draft class, including Rafael Castro, a center from George Washington University.
Castro is 6-foot-11 and 220 pounds, and while he lacks elite size for the 5 spot in the NBA, he has decent leaping ability and solid overall athleticism. He’s also a capable rebounder and shot-blocker, and he averaged 15.3 points on 62.7% field-goal shooting, 9.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks a game this past season as a senior.
He is not an outside shooting threat, and his free throw shooting needs work (he made 62.7% of his foul shot attempts in his four years in the NCAA). But he could have some potential as a backup center who can run the floor, rebound and defend.
Castro, at best, is projected to be a late second-round pick, but it seems more likely that he will be an undrafted free agent.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: 2026 Lakers draft prospects: Rafael Castro
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
