The Los Angeles Lakers won't be signing Brook Lopez, as the All-Star big man (and former Laker) is signing a two-year, $18 million deal to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
Lopez has been linked to the Lakers ever since the offseason began, but is now joining a West rival instead, putting additional pressure on L.A. to find a big man in free agency.
The Lakers are in desperate need of a big man after flaming out of last year's postseason against the lengthy Minnesota Timberwolves. After the Lakers' trade for Mark Williams fell through, L.A. patched together a rotation of bigs with Jaxson Hayes and a handful of backups.
Hayes is now a free agent, and the Lakers need to add a big who can complement Luka Doncic. While Lopez isn't exactly the rim-runner type that pairs well with Doncic, he can space the floor and play above-average defense protecting the rim.
Lopez, 37, is a one-time All-Star, two-time All-Defensive Teamer and one-time NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Across 80 games in 2024-25, he averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists across 31.8 minutes per game.
Lopez spent one season with the Lakers in 2017-18, averaging 13 points and four rebounds per game.
