Brook Lopez is probably not worried about the off season yet, because he is dealing with a tied series (2-2) against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. If he is wondering about the off season, he’ll probably think of his player option with the Brooklyn Nets.
Lopez will have an option to stay with the Nets, or except another year, which would imply big things for Lopez’s career and the Nets future.
According to Fred Kerber of the New York Post:
One opposing general manager, who said the prevailing thinking around the league is Lopez stays put and gets a max deal, may have summed it up best.
“If he walks, where are they going? They don’t have draft picks. They’re flip-flopping their pick [with Atlanta]. They’re getting the 29th instead of the 15th. For their future, I don’t see how they can lose him,” the GM said. “If Brook wants to stay there, he should be able to get whatever he wants.” …
Lopez has options. He can opt out and stay with the Nets on a five-year deal — other teams can offer four — and that would ease any self-worry about foot issues resurfacing. Or with all the TV money set to flood the market after next season, Lopez could sign a two-year deal with a player option for the second year. It makes no sense not to opt out.
If Lopez does opt-in, he will stay with the Brooklyn Nets, but with no real promise that the team is going to get any better. If he opts-out, he is welcomed to free agent frenzy, where he will be chased by the Lakers, Celtics, and Knicks who all have enough money to sign this guy.
