a day ago
Warriors Make Decision on Former NBA All-Star After Lakers Report
Warriors Make Decision on Former NBA All-Star After Lakers Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
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.
Advertisement
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.
Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11)© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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.
Advertisement
"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."
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."
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.
Advertisement
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.
Related: LeBron James Doesn't Hold Back While Discussing 2020 NBA Bubble
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
