Milwaukee Bucks big man Brook Lopez has been playing for the Bucks for seven seasons now and won a championship in Milwaukee in 2021, but he might need to sign elsewhere in free agency this summer if he wants to compete for another championship next season.
After all, there has been talk about a possible trade involving star big man Giannis Antetokounmpo after the Bucks got eliminated in the opening round of the postseason for a third consecutive year in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. On top of that, even if Antetokounmpo stays, star guard Damian Lillard is set to miss an extended period of time with a torn Achilles.
The Los Angeles Lakers stick out as a team that’s maybe one capable big man away from contending in the Western Conference, and per NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers have “long been fans” of Lopez.
“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.”
It’s worth noting that the last team Lopez played for before joining the Bucks was the storied Lakers franchise. He averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game across 74 contests (72 starts) with L.A. back in the 2017-18 regular season.
What separates Lopez from some big men is that he is both a strong 3-point shooter and rim protector at his position. In his last three seasons, he’s averaged 2.2 blocks and 1.8 made 3s per game. To boot, he’s knocked down his shots from deep at a 37.1 percent clip in that span.
Lopez would check boxes for the Lakers as a distinguished shot blocker and 3-point shooter, but signing him would also come with some risks. Namely, he’s long in the tooth at 37 years old, so it’s reasonable to question how much he has left in the tank.
Additionally, he wasn’t very effective at all in Milwaukee’s series against the Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. He averaged just 5.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 block in around just 15 minutes of playing time per contest.
Lakers fans will have to wait a bit to find out if Lopez will rejoin the Purple and Gold in the twilight of his career, as teams can’t negotiate with free agents from other teams until June 30.