Will Brook Lopez opt out?

[beantownboy171]

Fans over at Nets daily and execs around the league seem to think so. This could be the best thing to happen to us all offseason.

Both Lopez and Thaddeus Young can opt out of their contracts going into this offseason. Lopez is scheduled to make 17 million next year, Young is scheduled to make 10 million if they decide not to opt out.

Of the two I think Brook Lopez is much more likely to opt out. I know there are advantages to waiting until next off-season to hit free agency. There will be more cap space and money to go around. However for Lopez there are some glaring disadvantages:

- His injury history can cause his value to plummet at any moment.
- His relationship with Lionel Hollins is shaky, he spent half of the season on the bench for the Nets.
- The Nets tried to trade him openly all season and that has soured Lopez on continuing his career with the Brooklyn.
- He's coming off of a really good second half of the season and has played himself into another max contract this offseason.


Lopez is the Nets best piece going forward, both on the court and attracting other free agents to Brooklyn. I know he's not a perfect player. But it would be huge for Boston and could mean big things for our 2016 first rounder from BKN if Lopez leaves this offseason.

It is something to keep your eye on. The best thing that could happen for Boston this offseason   might not have anything to do with the players we sign or don't sign. Keep a close eye on what the Nets and Mavericks do in free agency.

Side note: Mirza Teletovic, who missed the second half of the season the blood clots in his lungs, will be an unrestricted free agent.

[coco]

Brooke Lopez?  I am not a fan

...can't point my finger on exactly what it is about Brooke, but i just wouldn't give the guy a max deal, if that's where the conversation is heading.....

[GratefulCs]

IF that's movin' up then i'm opting out


Danana naaa na naaa na na



Brooke lopez rebounding gives me a heart attack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack






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I think he'll opt out, ha

[beantownboy171]

Brooke Lopez?  I am not a fan

...can't point my finger on exactly what it is about Brooke, but i just wouldn't give the guy a max deal, if that's where the conversation is heading.....

I could care less about where Lopez signs, so long as he's not on the Nets roster next season.

[Ilikesports17]

This would be huge because even with his 17 million off the books they dont have any cap room to replace him.

I expect Young to opt in, but I could see Lopez opting out.

[beantownboy171]

Brooke Lopez?  I am not a fan

...can't point my finger on exactly what it is about Brooke, but i just wouldn't give the guy a max deal, if that's where the conversation is heading.....

I could care less about where Lopez signs, so long as he's not on the Nets roster next season.

I'll expand on that thought though. The Brooklyn Nets, even if Lopez AND Young opt out, will not have cap space this offseason. This won't be true next year or the year after that. We want the Nets to become irrelevant as soon as possible. It would be huge for Lopez to leave Brooklyn this offseason, because the team would be even worse next year. They would lean even more heavily on the unreliable Deron Williams and Brooklyn would be an even less desirable location to play for going into the big 2016 offseason.

Not to mention it would mean our Brooklyn pick would look much better next year, whether we opt to trade the pick or hold onto it. Without Lopez the pick has high, high upside. reasonably projecting to be anywhere from the bottom to the middle of the lottery.

[beantownboy171]

This would be huge because even with his 17 million off the books they dont have any cap room to replace him.

I expect Young to opt in, but I could see Lopez opting out.

Yup! I don't really mind if Young opts in. He has never been able to be difference maker throughout his career. He's ceiling is being a 6th man for a playoff team.

[PhoSita]

He's an All-NBA caliber guy at his best.  He can even play 60 to 70 games in a season, as he did this year.  He can carry a decent team.

The problem: he's one foot injury away from early retirement.

What will he get in free agency if he opts out?  Is that long term security worth giving up what he'll make this year and signing the same contract next summer?

[littleteapot]

I'd definitely opt out if I were him. Perfect time to hit the market and not take another year to risk ending your career.

And the Celtics should push for him if he does.