![\"Lakers](\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/t_share\/MjEzNjM1ODg0Nzg2OTE4ODYz\/usatsi_25699310.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Los Angeles Lakers only had one pick in the 2025 NBA draft, but they certainly made the two-night event count.<\/p>\n
Initially set to select at No. 55, the Lakers made a series of moves to climb up the board\u2014first to No. 45, and then ultimately landing the No. 36 pick in the second round, where they selected athletic two-way wing Adou Thiero from the Arkansas Razorbacks.<\/p>\n
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While that was their lone selection, the Lakers were highly active in the undrafted free agent market, which featured several notable names.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles quickly agreed to an Exhibit-10 deal with North Carolina star RJ Davis, one of the most recognizable players in college basketball in recent years.<\/p>\n
They also made a splash by signing Villanova\u2019s Eric Dixon\u2014the nation\u2019s leading scorer last season\u2014to a two-way contract.<\/p>\n
Eric Dixon averaged an impressive 23.3 points per game last season, shooting 45.1% from the field and a stellar 40.7% from three-point range. He also added 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest.<\/p>\n
Dixon, who spent his entire college career at Villanova, now joins a Lakers organization renowned for developing undrafted talent.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s expected to have a strong opportunity to showcase his skills in the upcoming Summer League\u2014alongside fellow newcomer RJ Davis\u2014on a roster that will feature Bronny James.<\/p>\n
All that said, if there\u2019s one thing the Lakers have learned over the past few years, it\u2019s that post-draft talent can offer real value.<\/p>\n
Just look at Austin Reaves and Alex Caruso\u2014both went undrafted and have carved out impactful NBA careers.<\/p>\n
Reaves is now on the brink of a major long-term deal with the Lakers, while Caruso, who won his first NBA title with L.A. in 2020, recently earned his second championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder and has established himself as one of the league\u2019s top defenders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Los Angeles Lakers only had one pick in the 2025 NBA draft, but they certainly made the two-night event count. Initially set to select at No…. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":73701,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n