Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Interested In Bringing Back Former Player

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez.

Brook Lopez has been among the best centers in the NBA since he was the tenth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of Stanford by the New Jersey Nets.  

The former All-Star is coming off another solid season with averages of 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.5 blocks per contest while shooting 53.1% from the field and 37.4% from the three-point range.   

This summer, he will become an unrestricted free agent, and ESPN's Dave McMenamin reports that the Los Angeles Lakers have interest in signing him. 

Via McMenamin's article on ESPN: "Among the players L.A. has interest in signing with the non-tax midlevel are Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, sources told ESPN."

New story: Parting ways with Mo Bamba and Malik Beasley will allow the Lakers to equip themselves with the full $12.4 million mid-level to target an impact player like Bruce Brown or Brook Lopez when free agency opens on Friday, sources told ESPN https://t.co/UetkIDCJyu

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) June 29, 2023

Lopez spent one season with the Lakers (in 2018) when the franchise was still in rebuilding mode.   

During that season, he averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest while shooting 46.5% from the field and 34.5% from the three-point range.

The Lakers are now coming off a season where they made the Western Conference Finals, and Lopez would be a significant addition to the team. 

This past season, the Bucks finished with a 58-24 record which was the best in the league (they lost to the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA Playoffs). 

In 2021, Lopez helped lead the Bucks to the NBA Championship over the Phoenix Suns. 

His career averages are 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 blocks per contest while shooting 49.7% from the field and 34.6% from the three-point range. 

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