What Bucks Are Demanding From Lakers For Brook Lopez

The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason has not gone as planned. They did not get Klay Thompson. They did not get Jonas Valanciunas. They did not get Dejounte Murray. All signs point to them missing out on DeMar DeRozan and Trae Young, too.

Currently L.A. is being linked to exactly one blockbuster trade. And how feasible it is remains to be seen.

It is increasingly looking like the Lakers’ only real path to improving the roster is by making marginal adjustments around the edges.

One player Los Angeles has increasingly been linked to in recent days is Milwaukee Bucks center, Brook Lopez. After being spurned by Valanciunas, he became the Lakers’ primary center target.

While L.A.’s interest is understandable, there has been some trepidation up to this point regarding the Bucks’ asking price.

According to NBA insider Gery Woelfel, Milwaukee is demanding a hefty bounty for their big man.

“Sources claim the Bucks are still very receptive to trading veteran Brook Lopez, but the Bucks’ asking price of a first-round draft pick for a 36-year-old center with a $23M contract is too rich,” he wrote on social media.

Given how stingy the Lakers have been with their few remaining draft picks remaining in this decade, it is hard to see them giving that capital up for Lopez.

That said, it really can’t be overstated how perfect Lopez would be for L.A. He was literally named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2023, so he would be a perfect rim-protector alongside Anthony Davis. Moreover, he has shot above 36 percent from beyond the arc for two straight years. He would perfectly space the floor on the other end, too.

It will be hard for the Lakers to get Lopez. But if they do, it would significantly upgrade the roster heading into the 2024-25 NBA season.

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school Games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.