Before we talk about Brook Lopez here is a link to the Nets TV Spot posted on Deron Williams facebook wall. I thought it was well done, liked the touch of the arena construction at the end, but I thought I could have used this. Oh well. On to Brook.
Name: Brook Lopez
Measurables: 7′ 0″, 265 lbs
Age: 23
Season Averages: 20.4 Pts 6.0 Assists 1.6 Rebounds 1.5 Blocks .6 Steals 2.1 TO’s
Contract Details: Completed the third year of a four year deal worth $9.8 million. The team has already picked up the option for a forth year. Will be a restricted free agent in 2013.
Lets play a quick game. Would you rather have Brook Lopez or any of the following players: O.J. Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Danilo Gallinari, Eric Gordon, Joe Alexander, and D.J, Augustin. In my opinion Kevin Love is the only clear cut winner. I’d also rather have Westbrook but there is a solid argument against him (and if you really want to, you can make a case for Eric Gordon). Draft classes take three years to evaluate so the general consensus that the Nets got a steal at number 10 (in case you figured it out these are the players that went between 3-10 in the 2008 draft. Brook was projected to go at 3) holds true today.
Brook’s performance last season had some ups and downs. He did set a new high for PPG but saw his averages fall in every other category, highlighted by a notable decreased in RPG (8.7 last year, 5.9 this year). That said, his play improved after the Deron Williams trade. His PPG jumped up (19.4 pre trade, 22.7 post trade) and his RPG improved slightly (5.7 pre trade, 6.4 post trade). Having a full off-season to work with Williams will only help more.
However, I believe that Lopez needs a monster year to justify the “untradeable” status he has received. He led the team in scoring, but his rebounding needs to improve. Lopez is capable of averaging nine rebounds a game, he almost did it last year, and placing himself among the east’s best centers. For now he remains very very good, but not great yet.