Bucks center Brook Lopez underwent successful surgery on his back on Thursday in Los Angeles, the team announced in a press release.
The Bucks didn’t provide a timeline for Lopez’s recovery and return to action, simply stating that he’ll continue to be listed as out and updates on his rehab will be provided “as appropriate.” However, back surgeries typically aren’t procedures that players return from quickly, so it seems safe to assume it’ll be a longer-term absence for the big man.
Lopez, 33, played in Milwaukee’s season opener in October, but has been sidelined since then due to his back ailment. He said last month in an interview with Shams Charania that he was ramping up his activities and thought he was getting closer to a return, so it certainly doesn’t appear that surgery was always the plan.
The Bucks have been leaning primarily on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to handle the five so far this season. The team also added veteran center DeMarcus Cousins in free agency this week, perhaps with Lopez’s looming surgery in mind.
There’s no indication at this point that Lopez’s back surgery will end his season, but if the injury is ultimately deemed season-ending, the Bucks could apply for a disabled player exception. If approved, it would be worth about $6.65MM, though it’s unclear how motivated Milwaukee would be to use such an exception, since team salary is already well above the tax line.
No surprise. You had to think something was amiss after the Bucks brought in Boogie. Based on the latter’s injury history, it might not be a bad idea to add a guy like Ed Davis, Robin Lopez or Derrick Favors who are all probably expendable and generally affordable.
I like your thinking, but Favors is too expensive unless he does a buyout, Robin has been playing weird last 2 seasons. Defense lapses and lack of rebounding. Ed Davis maybe. Cousins was a quick fill-in but yeah, adding a veteran presence would be great.
The replacement would be more a stretch 5 with the way Lopez is utilized…
Robin Lopez needs to return to Milwaukee. The Magic don’t need him.
Tax shouldn’t matter. The Bucks are an upper echelon team. The message they should convey to their fans – as long as Giannis is on our roster, we will win now regardless of tax costs.
I think they already have.
DMC was very good in his first game!
Well done big man you truly deserve it!
Now hoping Boogie regains his form! Portis can do the stretch 5 lineup and that would be a difficult pick up on the cheap but definitely think of someone who plays 4/5 for flexibility or if Cousins isn’t working a more traditional Defend and Rebound guy.
Boogie down baby boogie down
I wonder if Christian Woods from Houston could be gotten I see they may consider trading him.