When the Lakers traded D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez and the 28th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the benefits were twofold. Not only did they clear some of the cap space necessary to realize their two-max dreams in 2018 Free Agency, but they also acquired a dependable scorer who could anchor the half court offense and allow younger players to grow at a more appropriate pace.
Lopez’s reported back issues may be throwing a wrench into those plans, causing him to miss part or all of the preseason, and the Lakers can ill-afford to lose him beyond that.