Before Deandre Ayton arrived to solidify the starting center spot for the Los Angeles Lakers, all sorts of options were being explored. One that will undoubtedly stick out as a bullet that was dodged would be Brook Lopez.
The veteran center received a fair amount of links to the Lakers ahead of 2025 free agency. There was even a report that Lopez had the franchise on his radar before the overblown LeBron James debacle pushed him to join the Los Angeles Clippers instead.
Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst wrote, "Brook Lopez, who league sources said had strongly considered the Lakers and the potential starting role, grew wary of the uncertainty around James’ future with the team and opted to sign with the rival LA Clippers, where he will be a backup.”
If the Lakers were firmly in on Lopez, as some reports at the time suggested, they were spared from themselves. The Clippers center has been brutal in 2025-26. Investing their cap space into him would have left the team with a brutal outcome for the first full season with Luka Doncic.
Brook Lopez's steep decline is happening on the other side of Los Angeles
Lopez looked rough in his final season with the Milwaukee Bucks. The last impression left by the veteran ahead of 2025 free agency was that of being unplayable in the first round series against the Indiana Pacers.
Lopez averaged only 5.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 14.8 minutes per game. The former Bucks big shot 36.4 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from beyond the arc.
There were many who were willing to be forgiving of that series. The Pacers were simply thought to be a poor matchup for the playing style of Lopez.
Is there some semblance of truth to be found with that sentiment? Sure. However, that version of the former champion was pretty close to what the Clippers are getting now.
Lopez has averaged 5.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game in the backup role for the other Los Angeles team. The shooting splits of 39-35-73 are not awe inspiring numbers either.
In the most obvious statement you'll read here: it is more than safe to say Ayton has panned out far better than Lopez would have. The new Lakers starting center is not the perfect option down low, but he is leaps and bounds better than what was avoided.