Despite the Lakers' struggles, there's still plenty of buzz about potential trade-deadline deals.
Bringing Brook Back to Cali?
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski tells us about the Lakers' interest in Brooklyn Nets big man Brook Lopez.
Lopez has seemingly fallen out of favor in head coach Lionel Hollins' big-man rotation. The younger, more defensive-minded Mason Plumlee has taken many of Lopez's minutes.
Plumlee is now the starter and Lopez's minutes are down to 26.2 per game. In his career, he's averaged 32.6. There's no question Lopez is an offensive force (17.8 for his carer) and a decent shot-blocker (1.7). He's also just 26 years old and headed for unrestricted free agency.
The Lakers have to like their chances of re-signing Lopez if he does indeed come via trade midseason. He was born in North Hollywood, California, and played his collegiate ball at Stanford. It would seemingly be a match made in Southern Californian heaven.
As Wojnarowski points out, the Lakers are "likely short [on] assets." Still, if word circulated that Lopez fancies being a Laker in 2016 and beyond, it might discourage other teams from making a significant offer as they might be renting his services.
It may not be the equivalent of signing Shaquille O'Neal, or even robbing the Memphis Grizzlies of Pau Gasol, but Lopez would keep the Lakers' big-man tradition flowing without prolonged pause. A frontcourt anchored by Lopez and injured rookie Julius Randle is fairly exciting.
Aggressive Elsewhere
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Lakers don't simply have their sights set on Lopez. They had interest in Oklahoma City Thunder's new...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
