Luka Doni and the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a splash in the 2026-27 season, especially after their recent free agency signings. That said, the franchises recent first-round pick, Cameron Carr, could be the key to how successful L.A. will be next year.During the offseason, the Lakers improved their depth, defense, and perimeter shooting with five new players. After signingMatisse Thybulle most recently, the Frenchman completes their bench rotation, but Lakers fans cant forget about their first-round pick, especially after his play in Summer League.Cameron Carrs Summer League CrusadeIts safe to say that new Laker Cameron Carr was one of, if not the best, steals of the first round.The 21-year-old stole the show during the Summer League. He averaged 18 points per game there. Across both Summer League and the California Classic, he averaged more than 17 points across seven games, highlighted by a 26-point performance during the California Classic on July 5th.Cameron Carr starred for Los Angeles!26 PTS8 REB4 3PM@Lakers secure the victory in sudden death OT at the California Classic pic.twitter.com/wuRIkY8PD7 NBA (@NBA) July 5, 2026Looking at the tape, its clear Carrs scoring will play a massive role in year one. During his seven-game run, he showed great movement off-the-ball. That included Carr coming off screens and pulling up in the mid-range.Lakers fans entered Summer League expecting to see him make it rain from deep. Instead, he overcame his three-point drought by changing his approach. Its promising adaptability for someone so young, and his playstyle will work wonders with the Lakers star backcourt.Standing at 6-foot-5 with a 7-foot wingspan, he can slide over to small forward and aim to complement the Lakers star backcourt of Doni and Austin Reaves.What Will Carrs Role Be for the Lakers?Even though Cameron Carr struggled from three during the Summer League, fans saw potential with his outside shooting.For example, Carr made six threes during one scrimmage at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine.Across both the California Classic and Summer League in Vegas, the outside shooting saw mixed results. In three games at the former, he made nearly 41% of his 7.3 three-point attempts per game. In Vegas, he shot 19% at 6.5 APG.Baylor's Cameron Carr went OFF in the NBA draft combine scrimmage:30 PTS | 9-18 FG | 6-12 3PT | 7 REB pic.twitter.com/nFc3R4H9Bq B/R Hoops (@brhoops) May 13, 2026That said, playing with Doni and Reaves will draw attention away from Carr, providing more off-ball opportunities. Its a perfect situation for Carr, since he can calmly acclimate to a professional pace and physicality.To play a notable role with the Lakers, he will be tasked with hitting two to three threes a game, giving him an average of 6-9 PPG, an amount plenty of rookies reached last year. While fans wait to see him catch fire on offense, they should also look out for his defense.Cameron Carr blocks highlights pic.twitter.com/GSvz6v07iD Cameron Carr Muse (@LakersPixie) July 17, 2026The Lakers already upgraded their defense with the additions of Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Thybulle. Adding a 3-and-D wing to the bench, like Carr, is divine timing for the 17-time champions.Looking Ahead to the 2026-27 SeasonFrom now until the start of the new year, Carr must focus on his jump shot.A major reason the Los Angeles Lakers drafted the former Baylor Bear was his 37.4% three-point percentage during the 2025-26 NCAA season. Making his threes and playing defense will guarantee crucial playing time in year one.Everyone knows how frustrated Head Coach JJ Redick can be at times. But he must allow Carr to learn from his (literal) rookie mistakes. Carrs upside is undeniable, meaning he should have a relatively long leash and get the opportunity to learn and eventually make an impact.The post What Cameron Carr Must Do to Translate Summer League Success to Lakers appeared first on The Lead.