Wojnarowski: Lakers interested in Brook Lopez

[mcscotty]

Just finished watching the Clip/Nets game. Please don't bring that bum here.

[12footrim]

Who do you guys think you are going to get? Seriously. You can't really upgrade without something to offer or taking some calculated gambles. Do you really just want to be the 76's and tank the next 2 or 3 years?

Lopez is a 26 year old former All Star center Brooklyn wants to dump because of their luxury tax situation and a budding player behind him. You could probably get him for a big discount just to get him off their books and he's only on the books one more year just like Kobe. I think it's worth a chance.

His rebounding sucks but part of that is only playing 26 minutes a game. His per 36's are 8.2 rebounds per game and 7.9 for his career. That's not quite as bad as just panning him as a 6 rebound a game center and he certainly does other things well. Kareem didn't rebound at any better rate than that his last 8 seasons with the Lakers.

[TyCobb]

3 out of his last 4 seasons have been injury plagued. All-Star center, in the East. I'd rather spend $16MM elsewhere. I only take him if we get picks coming along with him to eat that capspace because I sure as hell don't want him signing an extension here. But guess what, Brooklyn doesn't have anything to offer pick-wise because they're in a worse situation than us.

[Danny Darko]

...or we could draft Towns.

[Slava]

We could draft Towns and still have Lopez for another season, like we had Randle and Boozer coming into this one.

[ALL HAIL]

Man ol' man!

What you have here is a philosophical discussion of how to rebuild. Guys like Slav, doc, and myself see a player "like" Lopez as the perfect guy to invest in with his potential and contract set-up the way it is.

On the other side, you have guys who want to go "shopping". These guys would've spent all their money on Bledsoe and Stephenson if you let them. Now, or specifically this offseason, they'd give all their money to Dragic and Omer Asik if you let them.

Then you have guys who don't want anyone on this team over 25 unless they're already a bonfide star.

If Lopez's contract would prevent the Lakers from signing someone this offseason, then my question is who do they really have a shot at signing this offseason? Who would Brook Lopez keep the Lakers from signing?

Isn't this the summer of 2013 all over again--Lakers are coming off a horrible season, an injured Kobe is coming back, and the future is at best very, very questionable.

What talented free agent this summer would that appeal to? My guess is none. The only way to get a very talented free agent to come here is to overpay, and the idea of committing to Reggie Jackson for four years, 56 million screams desperation.

[ALL HAIL]

Lopez is the perfect "type" of guy to bring aboard. He's talented, you wouldn't be giving up much, his "trial-period"/contract will end soon, he fills a need on this roster, and potentially could mesh well with another building block (Randle) as a long shot blocker.

Unless you're in love with Hill, a deal of Hill, Lin, and Nash for Lopez, Garnett, and Brown is a no-brainer.

Even if Lopez got hurt (that's the risk you take), the presence of a resigned Garnett would do wonders for Randle.

I just don't see Marc Gasol, Dragic, Kawhi Leonard, or the other usual suspects coming here this offseason, and I'd much rather have a roster like we do now than to have one with one or two guys on it with talent but are severely, untradeably overpaid.

[12footrim]

...or we could draft Towns.

....and he could be a complete bust for all anyone knows. It happens.

People were scared shatless about Curry's ankles 2 years ago now look at him. People said Grant Hill was done 10 years before he retired because of injuries. It's a gamble but it could pay off. What's the alternative pay Jordan Hill 10 million and hope you get to keep your top 5 pick and then turn it into something more than Tristan Thompson or half the crap that usually turns up busting.

[TyCobb]

I'd rather take that risk for 5 million than at 16 million.

[ALL HAIL]

As Slav already said, drafting Towns AND having Lopez aren't mutually exclusive. You don't have to pick one over the other fellas.

[kblo247]

The thing with the get brook Lopez is it's similar to sure take Lin and not invest in your future, what's one more year ... That's the bs that got us where we are at right now

We need to make a long term investment in B guys. Not waste our times with the likes of Wes placeholders or 1 year Lin like rentals. We need to look at guys like Dragic and pay them to come; same way we should have went after Lowry the legit way over telling him sit and wait

[kblo247]

The thing with the get brook Lopez is it's similar to sure take Lin and not invest in your future, what's one more year ... That's the bs that got us where we are at right now

We need to make a long term investment in B guys. Not waste our times with the likes of Wes placeholders or 1 year Lin like rentals. We need to look at guys like Dragic and pay them to come; same way we should have went after Lowry the legit way over telling him sit and wait

[dockingsched]

Man ol' man!

What you have here is a philosophical discussion of how to rebuild. Guys like Slav, doc, and myself see a player "like" Lopez as the perfect guy to invest in with his potential and contract set-up the way it is.
.

Good post but just to clarify I don't think he's the perfect guy to invest in. I think he fits the mold of a player the lakers should be looking to buy low. I posted that id consider it if it was just expirings like Nash and hill. The perfect guy would be someone who's value is low cause he's misused or under used, not because the player is injured a lot.

[ALL HAIL]

The thing with the get brook Lopez is it's similar to sure take Lin and not invest in your future, what's one more year ... That's the bs that got us where we are at right now

We need to make a long term investment in B guys. Not waste our times with the likes of Wes placeholders or 1 year Lin like rentals. We need to look at guys like Dragic and pay them to come; same way we should have went after Lowry the legit way over telling him sit and wait

I actually agree. Kyle Lowry is a great example because he isn't overpaid. Isaiah Thomas is another, but they are few and far between. Would I be upset if they threw the kitchen sink at Dragic? Probably a little, but only because, unlike Thomas and Lowry, I feel pretty confident that Dragic at max money will be a "ball and chain" contract in a year or two (although I do think he has game).

But the Dragic example is moot, because, unless Phoenix low balls him, he ain't comin' here. Dude is nearly thirty; he wants to win immediately.