The Los Angeles Clippers have sent a pretty clear signal about where they’re headed at center, and it leaves Brook Lopez looking like the odd man out.
Isaiah Jackson appears to be the team’s pick to open the season as the starter in the middle. That’s a notable shift, because after Ivica Zubac was dealt at last season’s trade deadline, Lopez stepped into the role as the Clippers’ starting big man. Now, with his role shrinking and younger options in the mix, he stands out as the veteran most likely to be moved.
Lopez is on an expiring contract, which only adds to the possibility. Even with his decline over the past couple of years, he still brings something plenty of teams want: playoff experience and a skill set that can help a contender. He remains one of the few floor-spacing bigs who can also protect the rim, and he’s still willing to fire away from deep.
He’s not the same defender he once was in Milwaukee, when he was in the DPOY conversation, but he can still anchor the paint in the right scheme. If a team doesn’t need him roaming all over the floor, he can be an effective shot-blocker and a useful fit.
The Clippers seem ready to lean more heavily on Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser as they move further toward a youth movement. Lopez should still see minutes early, but the most likely endgame is straightforward: he looks like a trade candidate before the deadline.
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