Milwaukee Bucks’ Big Man Emerging as Next Center for Lakers Who Make it Known How Badly They Need a No. 5..
Brook Lopez became unplayable for the Milwaukee Bucks in their series with the Indiana Pacers as well as in the last few games of the regular season. Will he find himself with another team?
Brook Lopez
Feb 25, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
He has the freedom to do that as an unrestricted free agent but with whom?
Betting odds have him as the top signing for the Los Angeles Lakers who just like the Bucks were at the wrong end of a gentleman sweep. The difference is that they were the higher seeded and was a favorite against their opponents Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ezoic
Lopez played for the Lakers in 2017-2018 season.
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Lakers
Mar 13, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Brook Lopez (left) greets teammate Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right) during the first half of an NBA game agains the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
He is in competition for the Yellow and Gold jersey with Nic Claxton of the Nets and Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks.
Other teams showing interest on Milwaukee Bucks veteran
Lakers are in dire need for a big man as they were not able to provide an answer to Rudy Gobert in the first round. The four-time DPOY feasted on the Lakers in Game 5, scoring his career playoff highs of 27 points and 24 rebounds.
They had Anthony Davis before but they traded him in exchange for superstar Luka Doncic.
Los Angeles Lakers, Lebron James, Anthony Edwards
Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) meets with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) following game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“No comment,” Lebron James said with a smile when asked if they need a big man. “My guy AD said what he needed and then he was gone the following week, so, I got no comment.”
There are still confirmation whether Lopez will still be with the Bucks come the 2025-2026 season but he could be a covered center during the offseason.
Another team being linked to Splash Mountain are the Brooklyn Nets, his former team.
Rockets’ best trade package for Giannis would dump disappointing young star..
Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Houston Rockets. That’s the phrase that continues to pop up. Suddenly, Houston isn’t just a fun upstart, they’re a real threat. Second seed in the West, lockdown defense, and a front office itching to make a seismic move. But let’s not kid ourselves, landing Giannis would flip this franchise on its head, for better or worse. And the only way it happens is by pushing every meaningful asset into the middle of the table.
Why Giannis Antetokounmpo fits Houston’s championship timeline
Nobody expected Houston to finish as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference coming into the season. They did it by bottling up everyone defensively, boasting a top-five defensive rating and bullying teams with energy, length, and a rotation full of two-way wings. But here’s the ugly truth. This Rockets offense isn’t good enough to hang with the elite. Houston ranked middle of the pack in offensive efficiency and struggled immensely in half-court scoring when the pace slowed down.
That’s where Giannis changes things. Antetokounmpo averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 boards, and nearly 6.5 assists this season. Giannis shot 61.7 percent from the field and when he was on the floor, even the Bucks’ broken offense looked competent. Put him next to Fred VanVleet and Alperen Şengün and suddenly, Houston isn’t just a defensive juggernaut, they’d become a nightmare at both ends of the floor.
Still, no trade is worth gutting the entire core of a team. The Rockets are desperate to keep Şengün. They want Giannis to be the final piece, not the start of another endless rebuild.
Constructing the Rockets’ best trade package for Giannis
If the Bucks finally say enough is enough, the Rockets have the goods. Here’s the most realistic, attention-grabbing offer:
Players:
• Jalen Green (21 ppg, upside scorer, still just 23)
• Jabari Smith Jr. (versatile defender, 12 ppg, 7 rpg)
• Reed Sheppard (rookie guard, shooting upside)
• Cam Whitmore (athletic wing, flashes of scoring upside)
Picks:
• 2025 first-round pick (Suns)
• 2027 first-round pick (unprotected, likely Suns)
• 2028 (own) or 2029 first-round pick (unprotected)
These aren’t just guys being thrown into a trade. Green is a young star on the rise despite a letdown in his first postseason. Smith Jr. is quietly one of the league’s best young defenders. Whitmore and Sheppard are wild cards but have real trade value. And those Suns picks? They’re gold if Phoenix collapses, which looks more likely by the day.
Houston’s enticing assets
If we’re keeping it real, Houston’s abundance of assets is better than almost anyone’s. They control most of their own picks. The Rockets have other team’s picks (and swaps) over the next few years (Phoenix especially). Compare that to OKC, who have picks galore but aren’t likely to mortgage everything for an older star or Brooklyn, who are asset-rich but stuck in a rebuild.
Even if the Bucks ask for Şengün, Houston should hold the line. Every other prospect and pick should be fair game, but core franchise centerpieces don’t grow on trees.
It’s a tightrope balancing act when attempting to win now while refusing to become the next Brooklyn Nets, gutted and hopeless after going all-in. Keeping Şengün, VanVleet, and Amen Thompson means Giannis joins a team ready to run, not a skeleton crew. Even if Green and Smith Jr. become stars down the road, Antetokounmpo plus this retooled core would put the Rockets squarely in the contender bracket, creating a three-to-five-year championship window.
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