Brooklyn Nets: Under-the-radar free agent fits to consider
By Evan Decruz
Brook Lopez
Like Nikola Mirotic, Milwaukee may not be able to afford re-signing Brook Lopez, who is an unrestricted free agent coming off a one-year deal — meaning Milwaukee doesn’t have the ability to use Bird rights to go over the cap with Lopez.
Brooklyn Nets fans would likely embrace the idea of bringing back the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. This would bring even more excitement to the Barclays Center.
Nets general manager Sean Marks would likely have the inside track on any contractual negotiations with him based on Lopez’s positive history with the franchise that drafted him 10th overall in 2008.
Lopez’s price tag is hard to peg. He took a steep cut on a one-year deal with the Bucks last year at $3.38 million, but given his age, he’s not likely to command a large long-term package, even as a center who can regularly step out and make 3s.
Lopez would also likely have to settle for a bench roll as well as the Nets would not be able to defend the perimeter with him and Jarrett Allen in the starting lineup.
Perhaps he’d be willing to sign a short=term deal at a discount if the Nets sign the stars they are eying to chase a championship which Lopez would relish being apart of.