Milwaukee Bucks big man Brook Lopez is no spring chicken. The 7-foot-1 center will be 37 next season, which incidentally, is also going to be the final year of his current contract with the team.
That contract is going to be worth $23 million, which will have a significant impact on Milwaukee’s cap room in 2024-25. At this point in his career, it’s not surprising that questions have now emerged on whether or not Lopez is still worth his weight in gold or if the Bucks would be better off cashing in on the former All-Star now while they still can.
Devon Platana of Dairyland Express strongly believes that the Bucks should “bite the bullet” on Lopez. That is, the two-time All-Defense center has now become more valuable as a trade asset for Milwaukee as opposed to being a crucial member of the roster.
There’s no denying that Lopez still brings a lot to the table for the team, particularly on the defensive end. However, it’s hard to argue against the notion that he is on the decline. Platana has the numbers to prove this notion:
“It’s clear that Lopez isn’t the elite defender that he once was. Not only were his 2.8 defensive win shares his third-worst total of the last six seasons, but the 114 points per 100 possessions that the Bucks surrendered when he was on the floor was a new career-worst,” wrote Platana.
Moreover, Lopez’s expiring deal has the makings of being a key piece in a potential blockbuster trade deal. This could be something the Bucks could consider if they are planning to make a splash in the trade market this summer.
Taking all this into consideration, Platana argues that the time has come for the Bucks to bid farewell to the well-loved big man:
“Considering how Lopez’s mobility is also shot at this point in his career, it might be time to bite the bullet and say goodbye. He’s provided Bucks fans with some great memories over the last six seasons, but if moving him means improving the team’s title odds, GM Horst must pull the trigger,” Platana wrote.
Leave a Reply