Portland Trail Blazers: 5 potential free agency targets in 2018

4. Brook Lopez

• Height: 7’0”
• Weight: 275 pounds
• Position: C
• Age: 30
• Last played for the Los Angeles Lakers

After establishing himself as one of the top centers in the league for nine seasons with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers last year. The Lakers were a young, inexperienced team and Lopez seemed to struggle a bit with that. He posted a career low in minutes played per game (23.4) and tied his rookie season for a career low in points per game (13.0). Lopez still has a lot of talent left in the tank, and in his exit interview, he believes he can still contribute.

"” I don’t think I reached my best basketball this season. I think my best basketball is still ahead of me. “ Lopez said to the L.A. media."

For career, Lopez is averaging 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.6 assists in 31.2 minutes per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from the 3-point line. Lopez came into the league as a post-up player but has done an excellent job developing his game to fit the style the NBA has gone. He would bring exceptional leadership and veteran experience to any locker room he joins.

FIt for the Blazers

If the Blazers decided to move on from Nurkic this summer or next, they could bring in Lopez to fill his role right away. Lopez fits the established player role Olshey says he is looking for. He would thrive playing next to two guys like Lillard and McCollum. He could back up Nurkic this season and hopefully that would pressure Nurkic into playing better and becoming the center the Blazers need him to be. If Nurkic doesn’t play well, Portland then can let Nurkic walk and keep Lopez.

The Blazers would most likely have to give the full mid-level exception to Lopez to pry him from other suitors and a Lakers team that just added LeBron James and still needs help at center. At 30 and already 10 seasons into his NBA career, Lopez may not pass the chance up to play on a winning team, but the Blazers can offer that chance too with two of the top guards in all of the NBA. Lopez has often been the best player and the go-to guy for his teams. With the Blazers, he could take a step back a little bit.

He would be excellent in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop in the Blazers offense. Lopez can space the floor at the center position, and that would open up more lanes to the basket. He is not an elite rim protector, but he uses his basketball IQ and a big body to clog the lane and contest shots. His ability to post up, pass and shoot could make him a valuable weapon for RipCity. It worked out for the Blazers when they had the other Lopez brother, Robin. Let’s see that the team can do this time around with Brook.