Dwight Howard’s dream of playing with Brooklyn is dead, until January 15th at least, after the Nets signed center Brook Lopez to a max-deal yesterday. Brooklyn played it safe, now wanting to lose their restricted free agent, especially with offers from the Charlotte Bobcats and the Portland Trailblazers set to come in for Lopez. Brooklyn signed him to a four-year, $61 million contract meaning he is not eligible to be traded until January 15 next year.
The deal is fully guaranteed for Lopez. Even though his name has been thrown around in trade scenarios with the Magic, Nets GM Billy King said the franchise was keen to move to Brooklyn with Lopez as their center.
“Brook Lopez is one of the top young centers in the NBA,” King said. “We have witnessed his growth as a player over the past four years, and are very pleased that he will remain in a Nets uniform as we begin our new era in Brooklyn.”
