Bucks center Brook Lopez is expected to be offered a two-year contract worth approximately $40MM from the Rockets, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reports.
Houston, which has the most cap space this summer, has a meeting lined up with Lopez. The veteran center’s free agent decision is expected to come down to remaining in Milwaukee or joining the Rockets. The Rockets have a 20-year-old center in Alperen Sengun, a 2021 first-rounder, but Lopez could serve as a mentor to Houston’s youthful big men while stabilizing its defense and stretching the floor offensively.
We have more free agent news:
- Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo has four meetings lined up on Friday and Saturday, Steve Popper of Newsday tweets. DiVincenzo entered the market when he declined his $4.7MM option. The Knicks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Pistons, Rockets, Magic, and Bulls have all been mentioned as potential pursuers for DiVincenzo, who could command the full $12.4MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception. The Warriors can only offer a four-year, $23.2MM deal due to cap restrictions since they only held his Non-Bird rights.
- The Warriors are likely to land unrestricted free agent Dario Saric, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link). Golden State is looking for a stretch four with a high basketball IQ and solid all-around skills. The 29-year-old Saric would also fit the team’s win-now approach. Saric, who tore his ACL during the 2021 playoffs, appeared in a total of 57 regular-season games with the Suns and Thunder this past season. The Warriors are generally seeking to sign swingmen and frontcourt players who shoot well on veteran’s minimum contracts, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears tweets.
- Celtics restricted free agent Grant Williams will likely have to be patient to find an interested bidder, according to Fischer. Though the Celtics have acquired Kristaps Porzingis, it’s not out of the question Boston could match an offer sheet for Williams, who reportedly will have difficulty finding an offer above the non-taypayer mid-level exception.
- The Mavericks has been linked to various wings and forwards, including Williams, Jae Crowder, Eric Gordon, and Malik Beasley, Fischer adds. League executives who have spoken to Yahoo Sports believe Gordon, who will enter the market after the Clippers decided not to guarantee his contract, could command the full mid-level or close to it.
- Raptors guard Fred VanVleet is meeting with Toronto’s brass at the start of free agency and there’s optimism within the organization they can keep him in the fold, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca tweets. According to Grange, a four-year deal averaging $30MM might be enough to convince VanVleet, who declined a $22.8MM option in order to enter free agency, to re-sign.
I really hope Brook Lopez accepts that but I’m guessing he’d rather stay on a top tier team. Capela would be my next hope
I love Brook Lopez, if GSW acquired him for Chris Paul midseason similar to what they did to Gary Payton II, they will easily win the title next year.
Enjoy it buddy that window will close when curry retires
I like the Warriors and appreciate what they’ve accomplished, but I’m at a loss as to how Lopez would have them “easily” winning the title. It’s going to be hard enough to get out of the west
I either want to see Brook Lopez stay with the Milwaukee Bucks or join the Los Angeles Lakers. I don’t want to see him on the Houston Rockets. Milwaukee Bucks better not play with that money.
I don’t think the lakers have the money to make it work. He would have to take a huge pay cut but could happen if he wanted to play with lebron and unibrow
At least some of the other Cap Space 8 (ex IND) have to be watching. Is Lopez using HOU as a stalking horse or is seriously considering signing with them as long as its for marginally more $$-?
Could be a leverage move, could be using the meeting to get a better idea what MKE’s true position is. Im sure he understands the spot MKE is in with the salary cap/tax apron stuff too. Regardless I can’t really blame him for seeing what’s out there. He is an unrestricted free agent after all.
Of course not, Lopez should look around in what could be his last real contract. He has his ring, and gave MIL the best years of his career at a bargain.
But from the perspective of teams like HOU (with lots of cap space, but not first choice destinations) they want to know their offers are being taken seriously as potentially ones he’ll sign.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Lopez sign the big contract. He’s 35 won a ring. At this point in his career it would be more about making as much money as possible and winding down.
In Houston he can take a smaller role while earning 40m why not. It’s not really a bad call for him.
needs to go back to the Bucks if he wants a chance at the playoffs and championship
You think so doctor?
FVV getting 4yrs 120mil. Wow
Not yet. Offered but he hasn’t accepted
Saric is a nice look for GSW, they need to replace and upgrade the JaMychal Green spot, he was so awful all year long for GSW, that won’t be hard.