Lakers Boost Shooting
Lakers Add MAC Player of Year Peter Suder, Wing AK Okereke to Boost Shooting
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Key Points
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Peter Suder’s path to the Lakers includes a transfer from Bellarmine to Miami (OH), where he earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors in 2023 before blossoming into MAC Player of the Year and helping the RedHawks reach a 31-0 regular-season mark.
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Cameron Carr was acquired via a draft-day trade with the New York Knicks to move up to the 24th pick, where he’s viewed as a plus shooter who complements Luka Dončić in LA’s offense.
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LA’s post-draft maneuvering extended beyond Carr, with reports that Henri Veesaar was a target before the Hawks moved up to take him, highlighting the Lakers’ aggressive draft plan despite later selling a second-round pick to the Mavericks during the clock.
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Okereke joined the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in 2026 on a two-way contract, underscoring a broader emphasis on adding wings and shooting to bolster LA’s perimeter threat as part of the summer plan.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed undrafted guard Peter Suder to a two-way contract, adding the MAC Player of the Year just hours after the 2026 NBA Draft. Suder, who led Miami University to a stunning 31-0 regular season, shot 42.1% from three and averaged 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, according to Sporting News.
The Lakers also signed 6'7" Vanderbilt wing AK Okereke on a second two-way deal. Both signings follow a draft-day trade that brought 24th overall pick Cameron Carr to Los Angeles. The moves signal a clear plan: surround Luka Dončić with shooters.
Suder's Undefeated Run Catches Lakers' Eye
Peter Suder's path to the NBA was anything but straight. He started at Bellarmine, where he earned ASUN All-Freshman Team honors in 2023. He then transferred to Miami (OH), according to Sporting News. There, he became the face of a mid-major phenomenon. The RedHawks went 31-0 in the regular season — one of the most dominant runs in recent college basketball history.
Suder's numbers were hard to ignore. He shot 54.6% from the field and 42.1% from deep. Scouts at ESPN Draft Express called his three-point shooting "NBA-ready gravity." GM Rob Pelinka agreed. "Peter isn't just depth," Pelinka said. "He is an elite shooter who fits the modern profile of what we are building."
Lakers Trade Up for Carr, Then Pivot Hard to Wings
Draft night started with a trade. The Lakers dealt future assets to the New York Knicks to grab the 24th pick, which they used on Cameron Carr. Carr is seen as a "plus shooter" who can space the floor next to Dončić. But the night didn't go exactly as planned, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Lakers had reportedly targeted Henri Veesaar, a mobile big man, as their next move. But the Atlanta Hawks jumped up and took him first. That forced GM Rob Pelinka to shift strategy. While still on the clock in the second round, Pelinka sold the Lakers' remaining pick to the Dallas Mavericks for cash and future flexibility. The focus turned entirely to wings and shooters.
Okereke Adds More Perimeter Punch on the Cheap
AK Okereke gives the Lakers a second two-way wing in one night. The 6'7" Vanderbilt forward shot 40% from three in college. The Lakers view him as a "3-and-D" prospect — a player who can shoot and defend multiple positions. Two-way contracts are low-risk deals. Players split time between the NBA roster and the G League.
By signing Suder and Okereke as undrafted free agents, the Lakers avoided big salary commitments. The Ringer noted that the duo gives the Lakers "low-risk fliers on high-reward shooting." Both players are expected to headline the South Bay Lakers in the G League while competing for NBA minutes.
Three 40-Percent Shooters in 24 Hours Shapes Roster Logic
In one 24-hour window, the Lakers added three players who each shoot 40% or better from three: Carr, Suder, and Okereke. Analytics site Cleaning The Glass called it "a masterclass in statistical optimization." In today's NBA, teams that shoot more threes win more games. The Lakers now have real depth to back that up.
Not everyone is sold. Some critics told Yahoo Sports that selling the second-round pick was "conflicting logic" after trading up for Carr. They argue the Lakers still have a hole in interior defense — one that Suder, at around 180 pounds, can't fix. But by staying under the luxury tax's second apron, the Lakers kept their options open for a mid-season trade.
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