Lakers predict Australian center Roko Zikarski will be selected in NBA draft

According to Gautam Varyl, a contributor to US sports media F/W. According to B/R's latest mock draft, the Lakers will select Australian center Roko Zikarski to solve their own lineup problems. The Lakers are desperately in need of a center this offseason, and they have a center in the B/R’s latest 2025 mock draft. The Lakers will only have the 55th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and they are expected to use it to pick Australian Roko Zikarski.

"The draft process is important for Roko Zikarski, as injuries ended an inefficient season ahead of schedule. A 18-year-old with strong mobility, 7-foot-2, professional experience may attract some teams to gamble and stay patient. The recent draft shows that the team is interested in adding to the size of his Karski in the midfield, even if they lack a modern skill set."

He has played for the NBL's Breesban Bullets for the last two seasons. The 18-year-old has been touted as a 2025 first-round pick after the Bullets’ first season, but his value has now fallen. The 2024-25 season did not fully achieve the expected leap, averaging 4.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. He didn’t get a lot of playing time (11.8 minutes per game) and then ended early due to a knee injury.

Although things didn't go as planned. He is still an interesting prospect. He is an excellent shooting blocker and has enough mobility to defend the outside. He may not have an immediate impact on the Lakers or anyone else, but he may become a very reliable center in a few years. He was in the NBA Draft United where he showed off his ridiculous standing arm span. There are also solid shooting skills on the United team, which suggests that he may one day become a reliable outside shooter in the NBA.

B/R compared him to Donovan Klingen, the Portland Trail Blazers drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. As a Trail Blazers rookie, Klingan averaged 6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Even if the Lakers do pick Zikarski, you'll expect them to get a center this offseason through free agents or trades. They need someone who can start next season and play big time. The Lakers have been associated with a number of centers recently, with a mock deal that allowed them to acquire Mitchell Robinson from the New York Knicks. Injuries and offensive restrictions would be a minor issue for Robinson, but they can certainly use his defense and rebounding. Meanwhile, Lakers insider Jowan Buha ranked Brooklyn Nets center Nick Clarkston as the best realistic goal. Like Robinson, Clarkston will be a solid acquisition, thanks to his defense and rebounding.

Lakers general manager Robert Pelinka will have many options this offseason. Here is what Pelinka thinks about the type of center he is going to look for.

"In terms of center characteristics, it would be great if there is a block threat, a franchise threat and a center that can protect the inside defensively. I think these will be key. But there are multiple types of centers that may work in the league. There are also a basket that can protect, and we'll look at those, too. So I don't want to limit it, but we know we need a big guy." Indeed, the Lakers do need an inside partner next to Luca Doncic to solve the flaws of the lineup.