Westbrook trade and 9 other regrettable Lakers moves Pelinka botched
By Tyler Watts
9. Letting Brook Lopez go
The Lakers acquired Lopez in 2017 in part to create cap space for LeBron’s arrival the following summer. They shipped D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov for Lopez and the 27th overall pick in the 2017 draft. The Lakers selected Kyle Kuzma, and they were hoping to snap a four-year playoff drought.
Lopez was an All-Star with the Nets that averaged over 19 points per game six times in seven years. The seven-footer was reaching the end of his prime, and Brooklyn was ready to move in a different direction.
It was a forgettable one season in LA for Splash Mountain. He set a new career-low in minutes per game and struggled to find his role on the team. Still, Lopez was interested in staying before signing a minimum deal with the Bucks in the 2018 offseason.
He has been a valuable role player and rim protector in Milwaukee for five straight years around Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Los Angeles Lakers have searched for answers at center. Brook Lopez has twice made the All-Defensive teams and would be the perfect role player next to LeBron and AD, but Rob Pelinka just let him walk in free agency without attempting to bring back the talented big man.