After waiving center Mo Bamba and declining the team option on guard Malik Beasley’s contract for next season, the Los Angeles Lakers have opened the use of the non-taxpayer midlevel exception, which will be worth $12.4 million.
That midlevel exception could yield a very useful player that could help get the team closer to its 18th NBA championship next season.
One man they reportedly want to use that midlevel exception on is 7-foot-1 center Brook Lopez.
Via ESPN:
“The moves will put the Lakers on the track to remain below the $172 million luxury tax cap threshold for 2023-24 and allow them to use the full $12.4 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception when building their team.
“Among the players L.A. has interest in signing with the non-tax midlevel are Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, sources told ESPN.”
Lopez, a 15-year veteran, has career averages of 16.4 points and 1.8 blocked shots per game, and he shot 37.4% from 3-point range this season. He could theoretically start at the 5 and allow Anthony Davis to split his time at power forward and center, just as he did when the Lakers won the NBA championship during the 2019-20 season.
He is also a funny and likable man, which could make him a nice fit and influence in the team’s locker room.
