Report: Lakers ‘Have Long Been Fans’ Of Brook Lopez

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Los Angeles Lakers “have long been fans” of Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. 

Lopez becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. 

“The Lakers have long been fans of Lopez, sources say. That doesn’t guarantee they will pursue him again, but the Lakers are indeed expected to be a player in the center market this summer. Sources say that Houston, furthermore, would once again have interest in signing Lopez if the Rockets are unable to retain Steven Adams,” Fischer wrote. 

According to Matt Moore of Hardwood Paroxysm, Lopez is expected to leave the Bucks this offseason. 

“Most everyone I’ve spoken to assume Brook Lopez is gone,” Moore wrote. “Lopez might be one of the bigger names on the market. He’s certainly at the end of his career, but like Al Horford, he’s a complete pro and a winner who’s easy to fit into a team culture and find a role for, and still makes a difference defensively night to night.”

Lopez played in 80 games for the Bucks this season. He averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 50.9% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc and 82.6% from the free-throw line. 

A one-time All-Star, Lopez helped the Bucks win the 2021 championship against the Phoenix Suns. He has played for the Brooklyn Nets, Lakers and Bucks. 

Lopez has career averages of 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He played for the Lakers in 2017-18. 

Los Angeles needs a center after trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade.

Jaxson Hayes started at center for the Lakers after the Davis-Doncic trade. He was benched in the second half of Game 4 of the LA-Minnesota Timberwolves postseason series and all of Game 5. 

The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of this year’s playoffs in five games.