The LA Clippers have utilized the 2025 NBA offseason to retool, restructure, and reinvent their vision in ways most believed they'd struggle to given their financial limitations. The headline-stealing move was the recent trade of Norman Powell for John Collins, which many remain divided over.
If there's one move that should have fans standing in solidarity, however, it's the signing of free agent center and NBA champion Brook Lopez.
Lopez signed with the Clippers on a two-year, $18 million contract. It was a vital addition for an LA side that needed to find a dependable backup to Ivica Zubac, who played at a borderline All-Star level in 2024-25 but lacked ideal depth behind him.
The details of the Lopez trade are equally as remarkable as his addition as a talent, as the Clippers can opt out of his contract after just one season.
There’s a team option on the second year of Brook Lopez’s two-year, $18M contract with the Clippers, league source says.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 6, 2025
A strong signing with a dream of a contract, Lopez could go a long way toward elevating LA toward contending in 2025-26 and maintaining flexibility beyond this coming season.
Brook Lopez has a club option in his Clippers contract
Lopez, 37, was widely regarded as one of the top centers on the open market. Deandre Ayton and Myles Turner were the big names, but Lopez was a common choice for being the third-best option for teams to consider at the position.
Clint Capela was one of the few for whom fans and analysts argued otherwise—and he ended up with a three-year deal.
Age is admittedly a factor the Clippers needed to consider, as it's unclear how much longer Lopez will be playing for. He's a 17-year veteran with nearly 1,200 games of wear-and-tear on his body between the regular season and playoffs.
Lopez continues to prove, however, that he ranks among the better 3-and-D big men in the NBA—and the Clippers are the perfect team to reduce his role and maximize his impact.
In 2024-25, Lopez posted averages of 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 offensive boards, 1.8 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.7 three-point field goals made per game. He shot at an efficient clip of .509/.373/.826, which is in line with his .507/.370/.810 shooting over the past four seasons.
For the Clippers, Lopez represents an opportunity to space the floor, protect the paint, and go to the post with consistency—regardless of whether or not Zubac is on the court.
Considering the Clippers ranked 25th in three-point field goals made, Lopez should help improve spacing for a team that ranked in the top 10 in points in the paint in 2024-25. It should also provide Kawhi Leonard with wider lanes to drive into and thus get to his spots in the midrange area.
Even if the Lopez experiment fails to pan out, however, the Clippers' brilliant contract decision has saved the franchise from any long-term issues—and made him immediately tradable.