3. Robin Lopez
The Los Angeles Lakers get another brother of a former Laker
In case you were not watching when the Los ANgeles Lakers lost to the Wizards in Overtime last Monday night, Robin Lopez was a problem for the Lakers bigs to deal with down low. His presence even caused the benching of Montrezl Harrell who was having a solid game on the offensive side of the floor.
He ended up finishing that game with 13 points off the bench and there was really no one on the Lakers who could defend him in the paint.
Throughout his career, Lopez has been a solid rebounder and rim protector because of his intimidating frame. He has also been a journeyman playing for 7 teams in his 12 years in the league, so he would likely be able to fit right away in a new system.
Lopez also has some familiarity with the Lakers franchise because his brother Brook played for the Lakers for a season, and he grew up in California and went to Stanford.
If the Lakers were fortunate enough to make a deal for Lopez on the buyout market, he would instantly become their best rebounder and interior defender coming off the bench. That alone should make him a target of interest for Los Angeles.
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The rewards would be plentiful if Lopez was able to come in and play like how he did on the Staples Center floor against the Lakers. He would also be an ideal running mate to put alongside Davis in a lineup as well to play that Howard and McGee role that has been missing since last season.
Even though he is up there in age, he is still four years younger than Gasol, and Lopez has much more of a pep in his step this late in his career. He would be an ideal addition to help solve the rim protection issue and he might even be able to be a pick-and-roll finisher and scoring threat down low for them in spurts.