The Los Angeles Lakers' top offseason priority is to bolster their center rotation. The lack of quality big men on the roster proved to be too costly for the Lakers in the playoffs, and GM Rob Pelinka will almost certainly address that weakness over the summer.
Due to the limited financial resources that the Lakers have, LA will either have to turn its attention to the trade market or target cheaper options in free agency. One of those team-friendly options is former Lakers center Brook Lopez.
Lopez is hitting free agency, and considering the new direction the Milwaukee Bucks are headed towards, he will likely be elsewhere for the 2025-26 season. In fact, NBA insider Matt Moore reported that everyone assumes "Brook Lopez is gone".
"That said, I’m not expecting the roster to look the way it does now. The team is likely to retain Kevin Porter Jr. and most everyone I’ve spoken to assume Brook Lopez is gone. Lopez might be one of the bigger names on the market."Matt Moore, Hardwood Paroxysm
The 37-year-old will have plenty of suitors on the market. Despite his age, Lopez remains an effective player and brings a unique skill set thanks to his ability to shoot the three and protect the rim. He is not as versatile as other center options due to his athletic limitations, but in a specific role where he isn't asked to defend out in the perimeter, Lopez is as good as any defensive center.
That is a skill set the Lakers can desperately use. Los Angeles needs more size and defense, and can use more shooters. Lopez checks all of those boxes. At this stage of his career, Lopez can't play extended minutes, but he is as reliable as they come, playing at least 78 games in each of the last three regular seasons.
The Lakers have a large role and a starting spot to offer Lopez, while giving him a chance to contend for a championship. That should make them one of the top landing spots for the veteran center's services. Whether this becomes a reality remains to be seen.