Lakers Trade Up to 36 to Draft Adou Thiero
The Los Angeles Lakers have traded up with the Minnesota Timberwolves to the 36th overall pick to select wing Adou Thiero. This is the second trade LA has made as they moved up from the 55th pick to the 45th pick earlier in the day.
Thiero is coming off a good junior season at Arkansas, where he averaged 15/6/2 with 1.6 steals per game. He shot 54.5 percent from the field and 25.6 percent from three.
Thiero played all three of his college seasons under head coach John Calipari, with two at Kentucky and one at Arkansas.
He’s not a center – but the Lakers also need wings and we got a DAWG 🫡
pic.twitter.com/7cfAvkrFze https://t.co/7zEnuipzos
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) June 27, 2025
Thiero has great size, length, and athleticism, which could make him a solid two-way wing for the Lakers. He can finish above the rim and is a solid rebounder for his size.
However, Thiero hasn’t developed a three-point shot, which could be a concern with talented playmakers like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
While Thiero is not the center that many fans were hoping for, LA was in need of more depth at the wing position.
Rob Pelinka and the Lakers will look to free agency and the trade market to upgrade their center position. Adou Thiero was their guy in the draft and will provide wing depth for the Lakers in his rookie season.
