The Golden State Warriors were on the verge of signing Brook Lopez before the LA Clippers snatched him up like a shopper on Black Friday. Lopez is entering the twilight of his career. The Warriors are looking to bolster their squad to give Stephen Curry the best chance at another title run before he calls time on his career. Golden State has been struggling to compete with the likes of OKC and the heavy hitters in the Western Conference in recent seasons. They did manage to bring in Jimmy Butler, but they still lack a big man in the number 5 position.
The Golden State Warriors still have some fight left in them
It’s funny how one team’s success in the NBA can make the fans and pundits forget about another team’s potential and history. The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated not only the Western Conference but the entire NBA in the 2024-25 season. They led the NBA in nearly every statistic and completely demolished the competition along the way.
However, the Warriors and their franchise player, Stephen Curry, are not done fighting yet. Like a boxer in the 11th round, they are bobbing and weaving to try to get to the 12th round of Stephen Curry’s career. They brought in Jimmy Butler to strengthen the team and bring a level of physicality that the Warriors have been lacking for the past few seasons.
Brook Lopez has become a hot commodity in the NBA this offseason
The Milwaukee Bucks brought in Miles Turner in a move that shocked the Pacers faithful this offseason. As a result, we all knew that Brook Lopez would be on his way out of Milwaukee. The question was where he would end up, as several teams in the NBA were looking for a skilled big man who could strengthen their defense, and Lopez fit the bill.
Brook Lopez has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers
As the Warriors do their best to find a solution to their number 5 problem, the Clippers quietly moved to sign Brook Lopez to their squad. Head coach Tyronn Lue has been rebuilding the Clippers, having brought in veteran point guard Chris Paul, and now has Brook Lopez to back up Ivica Zubac. Tyronn Lue has a lot of pressure to succeed in LA and has stated:
“You work to make sure that, in the game, everybody knows where they’re supposed to be at, and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But if you put them in a position to be successful, that’s all you can ask for.”
Lopez is a veteran of the game and a won a championship in his time with the Bucks. He ended last season with some impressive numbers, averaging 1.9 blocks and shooting 37.3% from three last season. His contract with the Clippers is worth $18 million over two years. We suspect those will be the last two years for Lopez as he enters the last chapter of his career. The NBA has entered a new era, one where the skilled big man is as hot as an LA Summer day.
Brook Lopez can still be a force in the NBA for quite some time to come
The Warriors are not the sort of team to have one option to fill a gap in their squad. They were considering Lopez, but ultimately lost the battle to the Clippers. This offseason has given us more surprises than a Real Housewives reunion. The shocking trade of Miles Turner and the unbelievable 7-team trade that brought Kevin Durant to Houston are only highlights of what we have been privy to this offseason. Last year, Lopez proved his worth and showed the NBA that despite his ripe age, he still has a lot of fight left.
