Brook Lopez was one of the more coveted big men in free agency, and in the end, he chose the Los Angeles Clippers. To be fair, the Los Angeles Lakers probably never made an offer because they switched their offseason strategy. For a while, Lopez to LA was a done deal, and when everyone expected him to sign with the Lakers, he went for the “second team” in Los Angeles.
Brook Lopez Ends Up in Los Angeles, but with the Clippers
Lopez signed a two-year, $18 million contract to play for the Clippers. He will probably serve as the backup center to Ivica Zubac, who had a career year last season.
Free agent center Brook Lopez has agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Clippers and Lopez's agents at Wasserman negotiate a new deal for the 2021 Bucks champion to exit Milwaukee and land in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/vmxiXtoGqu
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025
At 37 years old, Brook brings experience and three-point shooting to the Clippers. During his days with the Milwaukee Bucks, Lopez was a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, but he never won the award. He provides rim protection and spacing. In the past three seasons, he shot better than 36% from behind the arc on at least 4.7 attempts. He also averaged better than 1.9 blocks.
Lopez took a significant pay cut this year, but that is due to his age and reduced production. He is 37 years old, and not many players thrive when they reach that age. Last season, he played for $23 million. And for the next two seasons, he will earn $9 million. That contract makes him a good trade candidate if things do not pan out in Los Angeles. Since last season, the Clippers are making smart decisions regarding their cap space.
How Lopez Helps the Clippers
Last season, the Clippers used Mo Bamba as their backup center, but they traded him at the deadline. They had no reliable backup center, and at times, Nicolas Batum had to fill in. With Lopez, they get a big who can deliver 20 to 25 minutes of quality minutes. He averaged 30+ minutes in the last three seasons. Despite his age, Brook is a reliable player, missing only nine games in the past three seasons.
What is Next for the Clippers?
The Clippers have had a busy offseason so far. They re-signed James Harden to a two-year deal, did the same with Nicolas Batum, and now they inked Lopez. Amir Coffey is another free agent they should take care of, and then try to use the remaining mid-level exception to add another rotational piece. It will be interesting to see whether they negotiate a contract extension with Norman Powell as well. He had a career year last season and can sign a new, four-year extension this offseason. Right now, it seems like they will run it back with almost the same core as last year and hope for better health for Kawhi Leonard.
Looking at their payroll, the Clippers have two more years of trying to win a title with Kawhi. Both Leonard and Harden are now signed through 2026-27, and if things do not go their way, they can either trade them or wipe the slate clean in the summer of 2027.
How did the Lakers Give Lopez to the Clippers?
The Lakers were considered the most active team to get Lopez, but their plans changed thanks to Deandre Ayton’s buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers. According to the latest reports, LA is confident they can get Ayton, who is a younger and more athletic big. They hope that the former No. 1 pick can be a great partner with Luka Doncic for years to come. With the Lakers out of the picture, the Clippers swooped in and arguably the best center on the market.
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
