Brook Lopez Rumors: Will Lopez Leave Brooklyn Nets After Opting Out?
Brook Lopez rumors have the All-Star center leaving the Brooklyn Nets. Lopez just opted out of his contract with the Nets, becoming a free agent for the coming NBA offseason. As reported by NBA.com on Saturday, June 27, the seven-footer passed up a guaranteed $16.7 million salary for the 2015-16 NBA season. Now he could be in line for a nice pay raise when free agency opens up in July.
Nets general manager Billy King has made no secret of his plans to offer Lopez a huge contract. The team really cannot afford to lose one of its best players for nothing in return, which is what could happen if Lopez decides to simply sign with another franchise. There are a number of teams that could really use a center during the NBA offseason, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Portland Trail Blazers. It means Lopez will have a numbers of suitors.
During the 2014-15 NBA season, Brook Lopez averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per night. He only played 29.2 minutes per game, though, showing that he might not be the big-minutes type of player that the Lakers or Celtics would want to sign. The reality is that the Nets still have the most money to offer him, because they can give him a bump in pay through a max deal that another franchise cannot.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Lopez has an injury history that might also hurt the number of options he has in free agency. In the 2011-12 NBA season he played in just five games and then he played in just 17 games during the 2013-14 NBA season due to a broken foot. The big positive for the 27-year-old center is that he is still relatively young when compared to some of the other options on the market. That’s another thing that could play out in his favor.
The Brooklyn Nets are going to do everything possible to keep one of the few players left on the roster that was able to perform on a nightly basis last year. In fact, the Nets might be willing to overpay just to make sure that he isn’t lost in free agency. While there are Brook Lopez rumors about how he would like to stay in Brooklyn or whether he would sign with another franchise, he has been relatively quiet this offseason. It is the main reason why Nets fans should be worried until he signs a new contract.
[Image Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images]
