Is Brook Lopez’s time with the Milwaukee Bucks coming to an end? Splash Mountain’s contract has expired entering the new season and the front office has not expressed any desire to renew him.
Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers
Mar 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
He will not run out of suitors though and one of the more prominent teams expected to hire him is his former team the Los Angeles Lakers.
NBA Insider and Bleacher Report writer Jake Fischer revealed through Marc Stein’s podcast that the Lakers are expected to make a run for the Bucks big man as they find his contract situation favorable.
“Stein added that there is “a growing belief” around the NBA that Lopez will be joining a new team after seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks,” BR wrote on Saturday.
“Lopez is hitting free agency after the expiration of his previous two-year, $48 million deal with the Bucks.”
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks, Bucks news
Feb 12, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9), center Brook Lopez (11 and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) celebrate after a score in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Lopez is one of the four remaining players from Milwaukee’s 2021 NBA title-winning team. Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton’s time is also being carefully watched while superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to stay.
Brook Lopez is a back-up for Lakers
Another reporter, Anthony Irwin of Clutch Sports and Lakers Lounge, floated the same idea.
Teams recognize the Lakers are “desperate” for a center and are asking for more assets to “take advantage of them”, per @AnthonyIrwinLA pic.twitter.com/NeZrqSPdMA
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 29, 2025
While LA’s interest on Lopez has been present since last year, he is not the first choice for the Lakeshow.
Walker Kessler
Feb 12, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) dunks against Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
The team reportedly targets Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz but the trade negotiations are not moving up and it is mostly because of LA not contacting the player’s agent.
Frontcourt is the main issue they had last last season, especially when they went down in five games against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. They had Jaxson Hayes as the no. 5 but he was sparingly used against the Wolves that had Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Julius Randle in the frontcourt.
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