The Los Angeles Lakers didn't just make a draft day trade, they made a loud statement. By moving up to acquire Adou Thiero, the front office made it clear: The Lakers are going all-in on building a contender around Luka Doncic this summer.

On Thursday night, LA's strategy was focused and intentional. Flipping the No. 55 pick and a total of $2.5 million in cash to first grab No. 45 from the Bulls and then flipping that pick again to the Timberwolves for Thiero’s rights signals an offseason of urgency.

Rob Pelinka’s decision to make a move for Thiero, an athletic 6-foot-6 defensive wing out of Arkansas, fits perfectly into the emerging picture in Los Angeles. This team is no longer structured around LeBron James, even if his presence still looms large. The Lakers are actively retooling around Doncic, who needs rangy defenders, spot-up shooters, and bigs who can set hard screens and anchor the paint.

Thiero, while still raw offensively, checks boxes that have become non-negotiables for LA: Positional size, defensive versatility, and relentless effort. It’s the kind of pick you make when your front office is confident the rest of the roster can be rounded out with capable veterans who won’t be asked to do too much.

That’s where the rest of the plan starts to come into view. It's likely that the Lakers will trade for a starting center and sign a capable backup in free agency. With Anthony Davis now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, LA’s biggest holes lie in the frontcourt. Look for Pelinka to pursue a floor-spacing five or a lob-catching rim protector to pair with Doncic’s pick-and-roll mastery.

And don’t expect Thiero to be the last defensive-minded piece the Lakers bring in this summer. If their draft night maneuvering was any indication, they know the formula: Protect the rim, defend the perimeter, and give Doncic enough spacing and support to control the tempo of games.

There’s still work to be done, but the blueprint is coming into focus for this team. The Lakers aren’t dreaming anymore, they're building. And it's encouraging to see management be forward-thinking when they have a top-five player in basketball in their locker room.