Los Angeles Lakers: Should Lakers Trade For Brook Lopez?
The Los Angeles Lakers are a team desperate for talent. Their 6-16 record is a good indicator of that lack of talent, as is a quick glance at their starting lineup. Names like Jordan Hill and Wesley Johnson, players who can actually be solid role guys on teams, are key pieces of the Lakers starting five.
The bench is even more barren for quality players, and with little draft help on the way the problem is not likely to be rectified any time soon.
It may be interesting for the Lakers to inquire about acquiring one of the Brooklyn Nets’ star trio that have recently come available via trade. Point guard Deron Williams, guard/forward Joe Johnson, and center Brook Lopez are all quality players, and are all reportedly available as the Nets seek cap relief and other assets.
The idea of grabbing any capable players to make this Los Angeles Lakers team more competitive is tantalizing. The idea that players of quality are available for cap relief seems like a pipe dream.
However, there are a few issues with acquiring these players that need to be addressed before anyone should start visualizing how they would look in a Lakers uniform.
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Deron Williams is a good point guard. He is being paid like a great point guard; the guy he was in Utah some years ago. His contract is large, and has two years left beyond this one if Williams decides not to opt out of his deal.
Acquiring Williams would further the plans of a clean slate come the summer of 2016, and he’s not exactly a piece that would entice anyone to jump ship to head to Los Angeles. While he would be a solidifying force at point guard, he’s not a great option for the Lakers to be considering.
Joe Johnson would add talent to this team, but at this stage of his career it’s just not a good fit. He’s aging, and probably just simply wouldn’t fit with Kobe Bryant given the way his game operates. His contract would be a burden as well, so he can be crossed off the wish list as well.
The one that is truly intriguing is Brook Lopez. It’s rare that a talented center becomes available, and despite the criticism some may have of him, Lopez is an offensive talent in the post. He’s a 20-point scorer when he’s healthy, and on this Lakers team in it’s current state, he would get all the shots Kobe Bryant didn’t take.
More importantly, Lopez would add a quality player to the roster in line with the plan already in place; his contract expires after the 2015-16 season, just like Bryant’s.
There are downsides of acquiring Brook Lopez as well. He’s injury prone, likely the reason that Brooklyn is tiring of him, and isn’t the greatest rebounder given his position and physical tools.
If the Lakers are trying to get into position for a top pick for the next few years this move would pretty much guarantee them late lottery status assuming Lopez and Bryant both stay healthy, a move that is basketball purgatory.
While the move would make Kobe Bryant smile cheek-to-cheek, it just does not add up from an organization perspective. They would be giving up two expiring contracts in all likelihood (Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin) and the Nets would need some compensation in return, likely Houston’s first-round pick.
In any normal scenario, these assets would be worth giving up to take a dice roll on Brook Lopez, but given the fact that the Lakers are a year and a half away from launching a complete revamp, it doesn’t make sense to give up any draft selections for veterans.
In the end, the idea of adding quality players is nice, but not the best move for this club. Surely the Lakers will be linked to Brook Lopez in the coming months, and could certainly make a play for him; fans must hope they do not.