Los Angeles Lakers: Potential buyout candidates on league’s worst teams
By Jason Reed
1. Robin Lopez, Washington Wizards
The new-look Washington Wizards have not been very good this season. While they are one of the most fun teams to watch in the league with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, it just has not come together yet for the Wizards.
The Wizards have solid depth so there is a decent chance that they turn this around, especially when you consider who the Wizards have played to start the season. Washington has had to play Philadelphia, Miami, Brooklyn and Boston already.
If things continue to trend in the downwards direction then Robin Lopez will become a prime buyout candidate. Lopez is making $7.3 million this season and is a free agent after the year. In buying him out, the Wizards would open more minutes for young big men Thomas Bryant and Moritz Wagner, which would be more beneficial to the team in the long-term.
Lopez would be a solid big man to add to the Lakers’ bench and would give the team that second true center that it currently lacks. Marc Gasol is fine, but he is not someone who is going to play a lot of minutes and if he gets hurt or is in foul trouble then the team is kind of limited on what they can do.
It will force them to play Montrezl Harrell in crunch time. Harrell is great offensively and is a fantastic scorer to bring off the bench but he should not be closing meaningful games.
Robin Lopez provides a decent rebounding and shot-blocking option and his output would likely increase alongside LeBron James.