The Los Angeles Lakers need a big man this offseason, and no one should be surprised if they call Milwaukee Bucks' soon-to-be free agent Brook Lopez about a potential deal.
Los Angeles, just like Milwaukee, exited the playoffs in the first round this season, and their lack of a legitimate big man was one of the prominent reasons why. The Minnesota Timberwolves feasted at the basket, with the Lakers giving up 50 paint points per game, the third most among all postseason teams, during the five-game series. They need size, and Brook Lopez can give them that right away.
A Brook Lopez reunion with the Lakers makes sense
At 37, Brook Lopez isn't the player he once was, but he can still help. In Los Angeles, he would have plenty of open looks from behind the long line playing next to elite facilitators in Doncic and James, just like he has in Milwaukee due to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Defensively, he has certainly taken a big step back, but he can still help in spurts with his shot-blocking prowess, standing at 7-foot-1.
After losing his minutes and eventually starting job in the NBA Playoffs, Brook Lopez likely isn't due for a raise this offseason. The Lakers could likely snag him for something reasonable, especially if the Milwaukee Bucks decide to move in another direction. Frankly, this upcoming free agent class is far from loaded, so Los Angeles won't have an assortment of options.
As for Milwaukee, moving on from Lopez might sting, given how much he's helped this franchise over the last seven years, but it may be time. The first-round loss to Indiana highlighted just how much the Milwaukee Bucks need to add more youth, athleticism and mobility to their frontcourt. Lopez doesn't have those things at this stage of his NBA career.
That doesn't make him a bad player; it just means that he may need a different environment to truly succeed and make his presence felt.
A move to Los Angeles could bring back some old memories for Lopez. Between his long tenured stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, Lopez had a cup of coffee with the Lakers back in 2017-18. The team certainly looked a lot different back then than it does now, but still, familiarity is an important factor in today's NBA when players are weighing their options.
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