Adou Thiero

Thiero is the kind of long, switchable wing every contender covets, and the Lakers grabbed him at No. 36 in 2025 — a second-round price for a first-round motor. His game was built in the SEC: two developmental years at Kentucky, then a breakout under John Calipari at Arkansas, where he led the Razorbacks at 15.1 points a night and guarded one through four. His rookie year, though, was mostly a rehab story. A lingering knee issue cost him Summer League, and an MCL sprain kept his minutes sparse once he debuted. What flashes when he is healthy is the athleticism — transition rim runs, weak-side blocks, a projectable defensive frame — more than any polished half-court scoring. The jumper and handle are the swing skills; the tools underneath them already look NBA-caliber.