Brook Lopez’s recent resurgence couldn’t have come at a better time for the LA Clippers’ front office. After weeks of inconsistent play that had fans calling for him to be benched, the veteran center has elevated his game precisely when the team needed to maximize his trade value before the February deadline.
Lopez’s defense has been particularly impressive during the Clippers’ 11-2 run since their abysmal 6-21 start. His rim protection has anchored a unit that desperately needed interior presence, and when paired with John Collins on the help-side, LA finally found an identity.
Lopez has knocked down timely three-pointers during this stretch, showing he still has value as a floor-spacing big. For a Clippers team that ranks among the oldest in the league and needs to get younger and more athletic, Lopez’s improved play means they can actually get legitimate assets in return rather than having to attach picks just to move him.
Contending teams will come calling the LA Clippers for Brook Lopez
In a perfect-timing fashion, teams looking to make playoff pushes will be scouting for veteran big men who can protect the rim and stretch the floor. Brook Lopez checks both boxes, and his recent performances have reminded everyone why he was once an All-Star caliber player. He had 11 points against the Washington Wizards, nine against the Charlotte Hornets, and not long ago, had a memorable 31 on the Portland Trail Blazers, which were all wins.
Now, with Lopez playing well, the Clippers have options. They can either keep him as a valuable bench piece for their own playoff push or trade him for pieces that better align with their long-term timeline.
The LA Clippers’ front office avoided a deadline disaster
Brook Lopez has saved the front office from a deadline disaster by simply remembering how to play winning basketball. What looked like a sunk cost just weeks ago has transformed into a moveable asset with real value. The LA Clippers can now approach the deadline from a position of strength rather than desperation.
Whether Lopez finishes the season in LA or gets moved to a contender that he might fit better with, his turnaround was pivotal. Lawrence Frank and the front office can now use takeaways from the campaigns of Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Ivica Zubac to make informed decisions about the roster’s future, rather than being forced into unfavorable trades and having to dump salary.
