With all the moves the Los Angeles Lakers have been involved with so far this offseason, the franchise doesn’t appear to be done yet.
One area they have conducted serious business in is the frontcourt. This was identified even before the offseason and they added young center Walker Kessler and veteran Kevon Looney as a reserve. However, there is still room to add further help.
In a proposed trade involving their neighbours the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers would land another veteran center.
Lakers receive: Brook Lopez
Clippers receive: Jaden Hardy and Dalton Knecht
Lopez only joined the Clippers last summer. The Lakers would be adding a proven 7-foot-1 stretch big to join their much younger 7-foot-2 star in Kessler.
Lakers Proposed Trade Framework for Brook Lopez
GettyMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 13: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Brook Lopez #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 13, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Lopez is on team option money for the upcoming season after he exercised it. At $9.2 million, this wouldn’t provide any cap headache for the Lakers who have available pieces to make this proposal work.
L.A. would move two players in Hardy and Knecht in this trade. Both stars have low salaries that would just be enough to accommodate the addition of Lopez’s deal in the cap space.
Both Hardy and Knecht would most likely be outside the projected main rotation for the Lakers team this upcoming season. Hardy joined the Washington Wizards as part of the DeAndre Ayton trade. He is viewed as a deep rotational piece or a trade chip with the latter option being more feasible.
Knecht has also been speculated to be a trade chip due to his limited minutes and contribution in his first two seasons in the league. Flexibility would be the Clippers’ main catch as they are less on the contention ambition as the Lakers. They are already looking to move on from Kawhi Leonard.
Lopez would be making a return to L.A. for the Lakers where he spent the entire 2017-18 season. The bonus is that this move requires no draft capital to move which makes it a low-risk deal.
Lopez as a Veteran Frontcourt Addition
Lopez is 38 but has all the tools to be a top veteran addition for the Lakers. With him and Looney, 30, the Lakers would have the perfect mix of experience and youth with Kessler.
Kessler, even as the likely starting center, would also be guided by two veterans and former NBA champions. This could help the young star develop his game further.
Lopez played 75 games for the Clippers last season starting 40. He has been a consistent presence with 75 games actually being his lowest in four seasons. This has been an impressive reaction following his 2021-22 serious back injury that limited him to only 13 games.
The Lakers would not have to worry about availability issues with Lopez especially when he would most likely take the backseat as a role player.
Lopez averaged a career-low in points last year and a joint career-low in rebounds. His reduced minutes played a significant role in that. However, in a good system, like one led by Luka Doncic, he could still impact winning even if off the bench.
Projected NBA Trade Gives Lakers 7’1″ Sharpshooter to Pair With Luka Doncic