Brook Lopez is the most obvious Lakers free agent target entering the offseason. Lopez is an unrestricted free agent and is unlikely to re-sign with the Bucks, given the fact that they are exploring trading Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks will likely be looking to get younger with Giannis gone and Dame out for the season with an Achilles injury, so expect 37-year-old Lopez to be gone.

Lopez’s overall impact took a hit this past season as he saw his EPM drop from the 83rd percentile to 77th. Still, he is a clear positive on both ends and has demonstrated an ability to reliably space the floor as he shot exactly 37% from three in three consecutive seasons. Lopez may be declining, but he can still provide rim protection and spacing, a very rare combination in the NBA.

Lopez may be a possibility in free agency if he is comfortable taking a slight pay cut to compete for an NBA championship.

Lakers Should Call the Brooklyn Nets for Nic Claxton

Sticking with the need for a center, the Lakers should be calling the Brooklyn Nets about Nic Claxton. The Nets fell to No. 8 in the draft lottery, so they will likely be tanking once again next season.

Claxton is under contract for the next three seasons at a reasonable price tag of roughly $24 million/year.

Claxton is a proven rim protector and actually flashed an elite top-5% level defensive impact back in 2023 when he finished 98th percentile in defensive EPM.

Claxton has been wasting away on the Nets these past two seasons, and the Nets likely want to do right by him as he is entering his prime at the age of 26 currently.

Some combination of Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and some draft capital should be enough to get the Nets to give up Claxton. Hachimura had a productive season last year, but Claxton addresses a much bigger need for this Laker squad with his rim-protection.

The former second-round pick is my favorite trade target for the Lakers because his value is depressed after two lackluster seasons, and the fact that he is on a team that likely wants to get worse/younger while adding draft capital.

Unlike some other veteran targets for the Lakers, Claxton has tons of defensive upside that could fundamentally change the ceiling of this defense long-term instead of just being a stop-gap for a year or two.

Buying low on Claxton, who is the same age as Doncic, would be a brilliant move by GM Rob Pelinka.