The Los Angeles Lakers have made their desperation for a true center no secret as they look to pair one with the star duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić. The Lakers needed a center even before trading away Anthony Davis for Dončić, but they didn’t address it after the Mark Williams trade fiasco fell through.
Rob Pelinka won’t be in a position of strength as he enters negotiations, but the Lakers can still overpay someone to cash in on their championship window. The latest reports suggest they are going after the 37-year-old Brook Lopez, and fans are fuming over this choice.
Lakers Fans Disappointed in Brook Lopez Pursuit During 2025 Free Agency
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that “numerous rival teams are bracing for the center-craving Los Angeles Lakers to make a run at luring Lopez away from the [Milwaukee] Bucks.”
While Lopez is a decent center and might even fit well with James and Dončic, he has shown signs of decline. With several other centers potentially available, including Clint Capela, Nic Claxton, and Robert Williams, fans expressed their disappointment in the Lakers’ potential choice in their pursuit of an NBA championship.
“If that’s the best the Lakers can do, they might as well give up,” one disappointed fan wrote.
If that’s the best Lakers can do they might as well give up.
— Freedom Nexxus (@InfirmaPeribit) June 29, 2025
“Lakers are starting to look like a retirement home,” another fan wrote.
Apart from Lopez’s age, one concern is that he isn’t a great rebounder — he averaged just five per game last season. Lopez is also not much of a lob threat, an archetype that pairs well with Dončić, drawing further criticism from the fans.
“Luka should honestly request a trade,” one fan suggested.
“For God’s sake, the Lakers don’t need Brook Lopez. He’s f****** old. Send him to the retirement home. Apart from blocking rookies/dumb young fellas, he doesn’t provide anything. Can’t defend, can’t rebound. Shoots the 3 and that’s only his upside,” wrote another fan.
“Luka made the finals with two young, rim running lob threats so yeah it makes sense to go for a 37 year old brook lopez who can barely jump,” another fan argued.
Another fan was so disappointed in the choice that he called for Pelinka’s firing: “A 38 year old center dawg I need Rob gone asap.”
A 38 year old center dawg I need Rob gone asap https://t.co/MJnpI6QyJl pic.twitter.com/sbS0VyK8tN
— Ghost of XavienHoward (@XavienBuner) June 29, 2025
That’s unlikely to happen, but the chances of the Lakers signing Lopez are up in the air. Adding him would give the Lakers some rim protection, floor spacing, and veteran leadership, but LA needs a versatile defender, and there certainly are better options available in the market than the 37-year-old veteran.
