As the Los Angeles Lakers look to fortify their roster for the 2025-26 NBA season, the frontcourt remains a focal point.
Without Anthony Davis to anchor the center position, the team needs a reliable big who can hold down the defensive fort while LeBron James and Luka Dončić work their magic on offense.
One intriguing free-agent target is a veteran big man whose rim protection and floor-spacing ability could address key needs, even if his mobility has waned.
CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn recently broke down the strengths and weaknesses of this candidate, offering insight into why he could be a fit for the Lakers.
“Pros: Has been arguably the NBA’s best stationary rim-protector since he left the Lakers in 2018,” Quinn wrote.
“Has led the NBA in contested shots per game in every healthy season he’s played for the Bucks. He’s a consistently average 3-point shooter, which is a huge plus at center. Never posts gaudy rebounding totals himself, but is a better team rebounder than he looks, thanks to his strong box-out habits. Actually makes his free throws.”
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“Cons: Can’t move,” Quinn continued.
“You’re playing drop-coverage if he’s in the game, and you’re playing drop-coverage without Giannis Antetokounmpo protecting him. Makes sense in LeBron-only minutes as a spacer, but is too ground-bound at this point to run much pick-and-roll with Dončić. His post-offense isn’t nearly the weapon it was at his peak and was actually below-average in terms of efficiency last season. Another player who probably has to be a backup.”
The player in question? 37-year-old center Brook Lopez, who is hitting free agency.
Lopez, who spent the 2017-18 season with the Lakers, has evolved into one of the league’s premier defensive anchors since joining the Milwaukee Bucks.
His ability to contest shots—leading the NBA in contested shots per game in healthy seasons—makes him a formidable presence in the paint. In 2024-25, Lopez averaged 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 37.3 percent from three, offering the kind of floor-spacing the Lakers crave alongside LeBron’s playmaking. He also shot 82.6 percent from the line and appeared in an impressive 80 regular season games.
Despite mobility concerns, Lopez’s fit with the Lakers makes sense. At an estimated $10-12 million per year, Lopez represents a cost-effective option for a team managing its cap. While he’s no longer the All-Star he was in 2013, his specialized skill set—rim protection, spacing, and boxing out—addresses key Lakers weaknesses.
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