Adou Thiero's Rotation Path for Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers' 2025 second-round pick Adou Thiero is looking to secure a defined role after a rookie season limited by injuries. Thiero, a forward, appeared in 25 games last season, mostly in garbage time, but did play in six playoff contests, averaging just under six minutes per game.

Following a season riddled with injuries, fans anticipated a leap from Thiero during Summer League play. It took him a game or two for the play to slow down, but he then began showing glimpses of progression between his rookie and sophomore campaigns.

Summer League Performance

In his five games in Las Vegas before sitting out the finale with a wrist injury, Thiero averaged 15.4 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.8 steals. He jumped off the screen in every contest, flashing powerful dunks, vicious blocks, and a vastly improved defensive arsenal. The Lakers have a gaping hole at power forward, with players like Jarred Vanderbilt, Ziaire Williams, and Jake LaRavia also competing for frontcourt minutes.

Best-Case Scenario

Thiero is already considered one of the best pure athletes in the league. His path to rotation minutes this season could be carved out by taking a sizeable leap as a versatile defensive wing. According to Basketball Index, despite limited production last season, Thiero graded out in the 64th percentile as a ball screen navigator and the 80th and 83rd percentiles in pick pocket rate and passing lane defense, respectively.

He has shown a keen awareness of where to be when defending off the ball. Coupled with his natural athleticism, he could be a defensive threat from anywhere on the court. The fully idealized version of Thiero would also develop a reliable perimeter shot, turning him into the highly-coveted 3-and-D wing archetype.

His three-point shooting remains a key question. The numbers from different stages of his young career show a mixed picture:

Thiero not only needs to show an ability to knock down the deep ball but also the willingness to attempt it. In regards to his fit alongside Luka Dončić, the source suggests thinking of Derrick Jones Jr.

Obstacles and Concerns

Plenty of underlying proclivities stand in Thiero's way, namely his lack of perimeter shooting and an already checkered injury history. Los Angeles drafted him as he was recovering from a left knee injury suffered at Arkansas, which sidelined him for the first portion of his rookie season. Later, he was out for five weeks with a right knee MCL sprain.

The source poses several questions: "What if he never develops a deep ball? Does he turn into another version of Vanderbilt?"

Likely Role and Outlook

Thiero has a ton of room for growth this early in his career. Although his natural athleticism pops, he still needs to develop the intangibles and floor spacing that separate him from many counterparts. That being said, a role needs to be filled in the frontcourt. He came to Los Angeles as a work in progress but has already showed an ability and willingness to improve his craft. The source states we will know as early as training camp whether Thiero made an impactful enough leap to raise beyond just a fringe rotation player.