Lakers Avoid a Major Misstep as Brook Lopez Struggles with Clippers
The Lakers entered the offseason with a clear need: a starting center who could anchor the paint, stretch the floor, and hold his own for 30-plus minutes a night. Brook Lopez was on their radar-at least for a moment. But as the season unfolds, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Los Angeles made the right call by looking elsewhere.
Lopez ended up signing with the Clippers, and while the move didn’t generate major headlines at the time, it’s proving to be a bullet dodged for the Lakers. On Saturday night, the veteran big man logged 11 points, five rebounds, and two blocks in a win over the Lakers.
Solid numbers at a glance, but dig a little deeper and the concerns start to show. He also committed four turnovers and played just 25 minutes-even with Ivica Zubac exiting early due to injury.
And therein lies the problem. The Clippers may need Lopez to step into a starting role with Zubac sidelined, but at this stage of his career, that’s a tall ask.
Through the early part of the season, Lopez hasn’t started a single game. He’s averaging just 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and under a block per game in limited minutes-14.7 per night, to be exact.
That’s a stark contrast to last season, when he started all 81 games he played and logged over 31 minutes a night. The drop-off isn’t just in playing time.
Advanced metrics paint a similar picture: a negative VORP and negative win shares per 48 minutes. Simply put, the impact isn’t there anymore.
The Lakers, meanwhile, needed someone who could carry the load in the frontcourt. The idea of Lopez’s veteran savvy, rim protection, and three-point range had some appeal, but ultimately, they needed a more dynamic fit-especially alongside Luka Doncic, who thrives with a vertical lob threat in the pick-and-roll.
Enter Deandre Ayton.
After hitting the buyout market, Ayton landed in Los Angeles and immediately stepped into the starting role. He’s averaging 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and a block per game while shooting a career-best 71.0% from the field.
That efficiency matters-especially when you’re playing off a high-usage star like Doncic. Ayton’s ability to finish at the rim, clean the glass, and run the floor has been a major upgrade over what Lopez would’ve brought at this stage.
That’s not to say Ayton’s been flawless. He’s already missed four games and hasn’t always delivered in crunch time.
But the upside is undeniable, and at 27, he’s still squarely in his prime. That’s a far cry from a 37-year-old Lopez, who, while still capable in spurts, can’t shoulder the same kind of load anymore.
Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office deserve credit for resisting the temptation to chase names over fit. Instead of overcommitting to aging veterans, they added players like Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia-all of whom have helped fuel the team’s strong start.
Even with a recent 6-4 stretch, the Lakers sit at 19-8, good for fourth in the West. That kind of positioning doesn’t happen if you’re patching together center minutes with Lopez and Jaxson Hayes.
That said, the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation isn’t set in stone. They could still use another big to round things out-someone who can give them consistent production off the bench and help keep Ayton fresh for the postseason grind. A name like Daniel Gafford would make a lot of sense, offering energy, defense, and rim-running in a complementary role.
As for Lopez, Saturday night marked his first game all season with more than 20 minutes played. That stat alone speaks volumes. The former All-Star has had a fantastic career, but the version of him we’re seeing now just isn’t built for a starting role anymore.
The Lakers didn’t just avoid a bad signing-they made a smarter one. And in a Western Conference where every roster move matters, that kind of decision-making could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.