Center: Brook Lopez
The biggest prize in the the trade that sent D’Angelo Russell packing from Los Angeles, Brook Lopez has provided exactly what the Lakers were looking for when they made the deal. The seven-footer out of Stanford has given the Lakers consistent scoring while being an excellent veteran presence for his younger teammates.
Perhaps the most valuable thing that Brook Lopez adds to the Lakers is his ability to consistently knock down 3-pointers. He leads the team with 1.3 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 32.3 percent on those attempts. Lopez is a sign of the evolution of the NBA big man, as more and more seven-footers are stepping out and knocking down shots from deep.
Compared to his last season playing for the Brooklyn Nets, Lopez’s scoring numbers are down, but this is because the Lakers have many more scoring options than last year’s Brooklyn team. One area of concern, however, is that the center is averaging just 4.6 rebounds per game this season.
Next: 2017-18 Week 5 NBA Power Rankings
These low rebounding numbers are unacceptable for a player of Lopez’s stature, as there is no excuse for a player that big to not be averaging at least seven or eight rebounds per game. Playing on a one-year contract, he’ll have to show more desire to use his size in this next month of games if he wants to return to the team next season.
Grade: B