With interest in centers on the market, and the selection of Baba Miller on draft night, the LA Clippers showed many signs that Brook Lopez won’t be on the team next season. However, just before free agency, the Clippers made it official that they’ve exercised Lopez’s team option. This is blasphemous and proves the front office isn’t thinking clearly, as the veteran big man is old, limited offensively, and moves too slowly on both sides of the ball.
Los Angeles Clippers are picking up the $9.2M team option on Brook Lopez for the 2026-27 season, league sources tell me.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 29, 2026
There is absolutely nothing for the Clippers to like about Lopez at the current moment. Soon enough, though, the front office will realize they messed up badly during the offseason. But, by then, he’ll be stuck on the roster until, at least, the trade deadline.
That’s time wasted and money spent in the wrong direction.
Brook Lopez showed one too many signs he doesn’t belong in LA
Brook Lopez’s first season with the LA Clippers wasn’t a complete disaster. He had some really strong, promising moments, like the time he drilled nine three-pointers against the Portland Trail Blazers just as the Clippers had finally found some momentum.
On the contrary, by the end of it, Lopez seemed to have done enough to convince the Clippers’ front office not to pick up his team option.
He averaged just 8.5 points, 3.6 boards, and 1.3 assists, shooting 42.8% from the field and 36.0% from beyond the arc. These aren’t the type of numbers one would expect a center to put up, as there is clearly minimal rebounding and poor efficiency overall.
Additionally, Lopez had arguably his worst showing in the game that mattered most: the one and only play-in tournament battle with the Golden State Warriors. While he may have posted 17 points and five rebounds, the one-time All-Star shot 7-16, including 1-6 from three, and was constantly being hunted on defense.
He was one of the main reasons the Warriors walked away with a five-point win and their season still alive.
Still, despite all of the signals that he is better elsewhere, the Clippers' front office chose otherwise and decided to retain Lopez.
Now, instead of giving the opportunity to fans to watch an upgrade to start the season, or even handing the keys to Isaiah Jackson, who is honestly better, they’ll be witnessing the same old story: a center that cannot really provide much outside of three-point shooting and rim protection.
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