Lakers Rumors: Possible trade returns for Brook Lopez

Here, instead of acting as a salary dump, which Lopez initially was set to be, the Lakers here would bring in a solution to the hole Lopez is leaving behind. Although Lopez leaving will free cap space for a star to join LA, it also leaves a massive hole at the center position. Ivica Zubac simply is not ready to be an everyday starter, and the Lakers need to prepare for the following seasons.

Of course, a fairly simple solution is to resign Lopez to a deal if he plays up to standards. However, with the Lakers owning Bird Rights on Lopez, the ball is in his playing court. Lopez can easily get the Lakers to overpay for him, something the Lakers should avoid. Instead, Los Angeles could extend the center position for one more year, with an even better center.

DeAndre Jordan may not be able to space the floor and score like Lopez would, but he does bring in a skill set that is much more suited for the Lakers. Los Angeles needs interior defense and rebounding, something Lopez is not the best at, for centers. Jordan averaged 13.8 rebounds last season, 8.4 more per game that Lopez averaged.

The motives for the Clippers here are simple, clear some space, start over and bring in a young star. Acquiring Lopez would allow the team to stay relevant this season, but also open up cap space for next offseason if they did want to go a different route. Plus, the team would be bringing in a young, promising point guard in Jordan Clarkson.

With trade talks involving Austin Rivers, acquiring Clarkson could be the perfect asset to reset the downs for the Clippers. Regardless, a center swap could make sense for both teams, if the situation presents itself.