The Milwaukee Bucks are going to look very different in the 2024-25 NBA season than they did this past year. Yet another first-round loss in the NBA Playoffs as well as a midseason change at head coach have necessitated some significant roster reconstruction. While superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard will not be shopped, virtually every other player on their roster could be made available on the trade market.
Due to the Bucks’ salary cap situation, they are not able to send out more money in a trade than they bring in. This means that if they want to upgrade their roster via trade, they will need to also send out some significant players on their own roster in return. In other words, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Brook Lopez all could face the possibility of being traded.
NBA Analyst Suggests the Milwaukee Bucks Trade Brook Lopez to the Los Angeles Lakers
As mentioned, Bucks center Brook Lopez is one of the current players on their roster that could fetch them a decent return. With one year remaining on his contract, any team that acquires him would essentially be renting him for a year before he hits free agency again.
Jason Burgos of Sportsnaut believes that the Los Angeles Lakers could be a potential destination:
- Lakers get: Brook Lopez and MarJon Beauchamp
- Bucks get: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, future second-round pick
“Since the 36-year-old makes just over $23 million next season, to make the money work a trade for the Lakers would probably send Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and a future second-round pick to Milwaukee for Lopez and forward MarJon Beauchamp.”
Interestingly, Lopez played for the Lakers for one year before he signed with Milwaukee as a free agent. In his lone season in Los Angeles (2017-18), Lopez averaged 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He also shot 34.5% from three.
Since signing with the Bucks, Lopez has averages of 13.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. He is also a 35.4% three-point shooter over the last six seasons in Milwaukee.
Does This Brook Lopez Trade Make Sense for the Milwaukee Bucks?
One sticking point to this trade may be the inclusion of MarJon Beauchamp. The Bucks are in desperate need of youthful players and Beauchamp is one of their former first round picks. Then again, he has not shown much growth in two seasons and a change of scenery may be needed. His minutes have been limited in Milwaukee and perhaps he would get more playing time in Los Angeles.
Getting Rui Hachimura in return for Lopez would certainly be a great part of the return. The six-foot-eight power forward shot 42.2% from three, making him an ideal three-and-D player for Milwaukee’s rotation. He would feast from beyond the arc thanks to drives and kickouts from both Giannis and Lillard.
Gabe Vincent could slot in as Milwaukee’s backup point guard after playing just 11 games for the Lakers last season due to a knee injury. In his days with the Miami Heat, though, Vincent was a thorn in the Bucks’ side, shooting 42.4% from three against them in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
While losing Lopez’s interior defense would hurt, adding great three-point shooting and versatile defenders is exactly what the Bucks need to do this offseason.
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