The Los Angeles Lakers made an interesting selection with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Initially, the Los Angeles Lakers entered the 2025 NBA Draft with their 55th overall pick. However, the Lakers traded picks and cash for the Chicago Bulls before raising 10 spots.
However, the Lakers had made another transaction and had not yet been made. This time, we sent the Bulls’ acquisition of picks and cash considerations and the Bulls’ acquisition of No. 45 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
So they landed their 36th overall pick and used it to choose Arkansas forward Adotiero.
At 6’8” and 220 pounds, the La Lakers have high expectations for Thiero. He will likely be asked to pinpoint his team’s defenses, as he went to Arkansas on his three-year NCAA stint.
Following his choice, Tiero was asked about his defensive insight. The 21-year-old said he closely followed OG Anunoby and Jrue’s holiday games.
“I’m looking at a lot of defenders. I’m trying to pick up what they’re doing in the league. That’s on another level,” Tiero told Spectrum SportsNet, H/T Daniel Starkland.
“There are a lot of different things that offensive players do in the league, so he is a great defender when he tries to welcome Jrue Holiday’s OG Anunoby.
Aside from his defensive abilities, Tiero proved that he was free to score. After all, he averaged 15.1 points per game for Arkansas over three seasons.
Heading into the draft without a first round pick is always difficult, but Rob Perinka was able to turn his second half pick into a high two-round pick.
Perinka claimed that the Lakers scouts had decided to acquire Tiero, whom they projected as a first-round pick.
“We were very aggressive to know that we couldn’t start day one. Adou was predicted by the scouts as a first round talent,” Pelinka said.
He added: “We’re grateful for Johnny (Bus)’s support, we’re offensive, we’re using resources to win by margin, we’re going to get players who will rise in drafts and size up the roster.”
The Lakers’ basketball operations president and general manager claimed that Tiero was a “beast.” Certainly, the Lakers seem happy with this choice.