Report: Bucks Intend To Go After Nets' Brook Lopez This Summer
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Bucks intend to go after Nets center Brook Lopez this summer.
According to Stein, the 2013 NBA All-Star is expected to opt out of his contract and become a free agent.
Early last month, Nets general manager Billy King said that his No. 1 priority was to bring back both Lopez and forward Thaddeus Young, who was acquired in February in the deal that sent Kevin Garnett back to Minnesota.
"Internally, the next big step is to keep Brook and Thaddeus here," King said after the season concluded. "They both have shown indications they want to be here in their exit interviews, and we want them here. So it's incumbent on us to get that done."
Lopez has a $16.7 million player option, and Young has a $10 million player option.
If Lopez opts out, King will have an advantage over other general managers. The Nets are the only team that can offer the 27-year-old a five-year max contract. The rest of the teams in the NBA can offer him max contracts, but only four years.
Lopez, of course, played for Bucks head coach Jason Kidd in Brooklyn during the 2013-14 season.
Following an injury-plagued season in 2013-14, the 7-footer rebounded strongly in 2014-15. In 72 games, the big man averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game.