The Los Angeles Lakers, under the leadership of GM Rob Pelinka, are refusing to let a challenging season spiral into total disaster. With star guard Austin Reaves and superstar Luka Doncic both sidelined and expected to miss at least a portion of the first round of the playoffs, the team faces the very real threat of a one-and-done postseason exit. What began as a promising campaign now teeters on the edge of a nightmare conclusion.
Yet even amid the injury cloud hanging over the roster, Pelinka and the Lakers front office are already shifting focus toward the future. A persistent issue plaguing the purple and gold in recent years has been a lack of reliable, high-quality size in the frontcourt. While Deandre Ayton has delivered solid stretches this season — appearing in 72 games and posting averages of 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds — his inconsistency and lack of elite rebounding punch for a big man have left the Lakers searching for a more dependable long-term solution.
Ayton’s player option for next season adds another layer of uncertainty. From the Lakers’ perspective, reallocating that money toward a higher-upside addition makes strategic sense, though Ayton may opt to secure the guaranteed dollars following a somewhat underwhelming campaign. In either case, the frontcourt clearly needs reinforcement, whether through free agency, trades, or the draft.
Enter a stealthy and highly intriguing draft-night maneuver that has insiders buzzing: the Lakers are projected to select Washington forward Hannes Steinbach with the No. 25 overall pick, effectively “swiping” one of the draft’s most intriguing big men in what feels like a calculated midnight deal.
CBS Sports analyst Cameron Salerno highlighted the fit perfectly, noting Lakers coach JJ Redick’s recent lighthearted jab at Ayton’s occasional ball-handling struggles. “The perfect solution to that problem would be to draft Steinbach, who has some of the best hands in college basketball,” Salerno wrote. “Steinbach was a double-double machine at Washington and has a chance to go much higher than 25. I love the fit with the Lakers if it does happen.”
At just 19 years old (turning 20 shortly after the draft), the 6-foot-11 German forward has already established himself as a rebounding phenom. He led the entire NCAA in rebounding as a freshman while shooting a respectable 34% from three-point range — impressive numbers for a player of his size and age. His hands are elite, his feel for the game is advanced, and he brings a level of polish rarely seen in such a young big.
The Athletic’s John Hollinger went even further, calling Steinbach a near “no-brainer” in the late first round. “Steinbach also has a very strong year as an 18-year-old in the German pro league on his resume,” Hollinger noted. “Historically, players who are good enough to play well in an overseas league as teenagers basically never fail. That makes him almost a no-brainer once you get to about the 20th pick… In a weaker draft, he’d have a case to go much higher because of his floor, but between the surfeit of high-ceiling talent and the questions about whether Steinbach is a long-term starter or more of a ‘third big,’ he likely falls just outside the lottery in 2026.”
Steinbach’s profile checks multiple boxes the Lakers desperately need: youth, size, elite rebounding instincts, soft hands, and enough perimeter skill to stretch the floor. Pairing him with Ayton (as depth) or potentially transitioning away from the veteran big could give Los Angeles the versatile frontcourt presence it has lacked for years.
While the immediate focus remains on navigating the playoffs without Reaves and Doncic — a tall task that could end the season prematurely — Pelinka’s willingness to target high-floor prospects like Steinbach signals a clear organizational pivot. The Lakers are not content to merely survive; they are quietly positioning themselves for a more stable and competitive future.
If the projection holds and the 6-foot-11 phenom lands in Los Angeles via that No. 25 pick, it could represent one of the stealthiest and most impactful “midnight deals” of the draft cycle. For a franchise staring down uncertainty, Steinbach offers something rare in today’s NBA: a big man with proven production, international pedigree, and the physical tools to grow into a cornerstone frontcourt piece.
The Lakers’ front office has work to do this offseason, but quietly adding a talent like Hannes Steinbach might just be the first step toward turning the page on a frustrating chapter and building a more robust roster for the years ahead. Stay tuned — draft night could deliver exactly the kind of size upgrade Los Angeles has been craving.