Brook Lopez‘s ability to space the floor would make him a good match with the Bucks, according to Frank Urbina of HoopsHype. Lopez’s 3-point shooting would open up the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the Bucks are already over the projected salary-cap limit and would thus only be able to offer the unrestricted free agent their non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Other potential landing spots for Lopez if he doesn’t re-sign with the Lakers include the Trail Blazers, who could lose restricted free agent Jusuf Nurkic, and the Nets, his former team.
We have more on the Lakers:
- Jordan Clarkson‘s struggles in the playoffs make it clear that the Lakers got the best of their trade deadline deal with the Cavaliers, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report opines. Clarkson was benched in Game 3 after making only 23.1% percent of his shots attempts in the first two games and he shot just 30.9% in prior playoff games, Pincus notes. Clarkson also hasn’t been a playmaker, doling out just one assist over the last eight games, Pincus continues. The Lakers also gave up forward Larry Nance Jr. while getting back Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and a first-round pick. The draft pick, plus Thomas’ expiring contract, sets up the Lakers for a potentially momentous summer, Pincus adds.
- The Lakers will work out mainly second-round prospects on Saturday, according to a team release. Brian Bowen II, Jacob Evans (Cincinnati), Wenyen Gabriel (Kentucky), Tra Holder (Arizona State), Nick King (Middle Tennessee) and Theo Pinson (North Carolina) will pay a visit. Evans is the top-rated prospect in the group, currently ranked No. 29 overall by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
- What are the team’s biggest offseason questions? Hoops Rumors’ Luke Adams takes a closer look.
Sign and trade Lopez to San Antonio, in conjunction with other players, for Leonard.
LMA plus Lopez would be a nice one-two for Spurs.
Lakers NEED to sign Randle long term, and hopefully as cheap as he’s willing to take to remain a Laker
Yes. Leonard for Lopez and a cast of others sounds splendid.
Trade Leonard when they can just sign Lopez as a free agent…genius.
You’d have to do Lopez and Ingram and Kuzma for Kawhi
Lopez is an unrestricted FA. They’d have to do a deal without him. The only way a sign-and-trade comes into play is if it’s a max type deal, which he won’t get.
slightly off topic… but Isaiah Thomas was mentioned above and was a key part of the whole Cavs/Lakers trade. I think whoever signs Thomas this off-season (if they can get him on a decent contract – ie not the “brinks truck” he talked about last year) I think they could have a steal. The perfect fit for him would be a borderline playoff team (this past season) and a situation where he feels like it’s “his team” I can easily see him bouncing back to an all-star caliber scorer. I don’t think the cap works for this but say he went to MIA. He could easily average 20+ PPG, have a solid albeit second-class supporting case and could instantly make the Heat a much better team, at least scoring wise.
I mean I’m not kidding myself – he’s no MVP caliber player like he (sort of) looked for a season with the Celtics. But he could easily take a 7 or 8 seed and make them a 4 or a 5. (with the right fit) He’s not going to win a franchise a championship… but then again no one outside of maybe 3/4 teams are going to have a shot at that next season anyway. So I think he could easily be the most undervalued FA on the market. (of course that’s assuming someone doesn’t go nuts and offer him the “Brinks Truck” he envisioned while in Boston)
Don’t kid yourself. There is only one team that has a chance at a championship next year. And IT is no steal other to the teams that don’t get him. He’s a cancer.
Celtics?
I don’t think Danny A is going to take back IT. lol
GSW. However, this summer could be a barnburner with coaches and players coming and going and what looks to be a good draft on paper, could also change the outlook of the NBA. Celtics have as good a chance as anyone.
Never thought about it but Lopez to Milwaukee seems like a great fit, I mean he can space the floor is a great shooter for a 7 footer & can defend the rim, he may not be a good rebounder but is a very good blocker so just what Milwaukee needs space & blocks from their 5 to play alongside Giannis, hopefully it happens.
Also agree IT is not a superstar, but it is a star if he can get back to good health, so in the right situation in the right team for a reasonable price, he can be a great summer signing.
I’m not buying Clarkson’s struggles. Watch him average 15-17 ppg next season if Lebron is out of the picture. Lebron makes all his teammates worse and play his style of ball.
Clarkson is a scrub. You can remove the ‘1’ from that PPG and that’s still above what he’ll end up doing.
Scrub? Have Lebron leave and watch Clarkson average 16-18 ppg next season if he gets 25-30 minutes a night.
Wow, he increased his scoring output by a point a game in about an hour. At that rate he will be in the Hall of Fame sometime around Tuesday.
More than about anyone, Clarkson has to do whatever he feels like to be effective. He does not accumulate assists. People who claim to be fans of team basketball have no business lauding Clarkson. He’s talented & works pretty hard, fine.
IT can get things done offensively. He will help someone.
So if the Cavs had a choice between the guy who gives you 28/10/10 on 50% shooting or the enigmatic PG who shoots more than he passes, and if when the leash is loosened, he’ll give you 18 pts a couple of assists, a couple of rebounds and shoot for 42% most of the time can you guess which one was best suited to provide maximum value for the Cavs? Answer….the one that has been riding the bench all season.
“Lebron makes all his teammates worse and play his style of ball.”
Right and Lakers fans want LeBron on the Lakers. Idiots!
A person could also turn that around to read “and LeBron would play for Big Baller Boys’ daddy?”