Warriors Make Decision on Former NBA All-Star After Lakers Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt John | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 6:05 PM ET

The Los Angeles Lakers have some issues to address this offseason. While many will pay attention to Luka Doncic's conditioning and LeBron James' age, one of the roster's most significant flaws is at the center position.

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat them in five games largely because of their frontcourt advantage. This advantage isn't exclusive to the Timberwolves. The Denver Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, and the Houston Rockets have Alperen Sengun. The bottom line is that many of the Lakers' competitors in the West have quality centers.

That's why the Lakers can't pretend this problem doesn't exist. If they're serious about contending, they will need a better starting center next to Doncic and James than Jaxson Hayes.

On Wednesday, NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line that the Lakers will go after a center. While they like Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, it's unclear if they will try to sign him.

"The Lakers have long been fans of Lopez, sources say," Fischer wrote. "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."

Tons of draft discussion, trade talk and fresh league Intel in this Wednesday reporting feast from @JakeLFischer as we slowly build our way up to tonight's Game 3 of the NBA Finals: https://t.co/nPuYfb0rQs pic.twitter.com/UHV5Ol0sIz
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 11, 2025

Shortly after this report from Fischer, the San Francisco Standard's Tim Kawakami reported intel related to Lopez and the Golden State Warriors (via Warriors Plus Minus podcast).

"I've said stretch five before," Kawakami said of his previous reporting on Golden State's potential free agency targets. "I don't think it's gonna be stretch five now. I don't think it's going to be Brook Lopez. I think they're going to try and lean on Quinten Post."

The Warriors may not pursue Brook Lopez and could instead lean toward Quentin Post, per @timkawakami

There’s a lot of hope around Post, and Golden State may not want to spend significant money on a stretch five. pic.twitter.com/dHL0dFsnj9
— Ball Report (@BallReportX) June 11, 2025

Lopez played for the Lakers during the 2017-18 season before the Bucks signed him the following offseason. He is a 2013 NBA All-Star and has impressively remade his game into becoming one of the best floor spacers and shot blockers in the league.

Doncic played with a player with a similar archetype in Kristaps Porzingis, though their partnership was imperfect in Dallas. Lopez is nearing the end of his career, and he has never been a locker room problem.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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