BROOKLYN – You can’t spell Brooklyn without “Brook,” and the Nets couldn’t win Game 3 without Lopez. The big question after this big game: What will the big man do this summer when he has a chance to become an unrestricted free agent?
It remains an open question.
The 7-footer led the Nets with 22 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in 42 minutes with the season essentially on the line. By getting the win, Brooklyn avoided the daunting task of attempting to become the first NBA playoff team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit.
“He’s a top tier dude,” Nets guard Jarrett Jack told SheridanHoops after Game 3. “He’s right up there with the other big-name centers in this league from what he can bring on the perimeter as well as on the post.”
Lopez has now scored 20 or more points in eight of 10 career playoff games. He is now averaging 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.67 blocks per game against the Atlanta Hawks this series.
After spending time in coach Lionel Hollins’ doghouse and dealing with a back injury in the first half of the season, Lopez went on a tear following All-Star Weekend, averaging 19.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
This after Lopez was nearly shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the trade deadline. In retrospect, Brooklyn probably wouldn’t have qualified for the playoffs without Lopez.
With Brooklyn’s playoff hopes in question towards the stretch run, Lopez responded with a 13-game stretch from March 20 through April 10 averaging 26.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 36.4 minutes per game. Lopez shot a sizzling 59 percent from the field and 85 percent from the foul line during that span.
For Lopez, this was a chance to reestablish his market value and return to form as one of the most potent offensive centers in the league after missing 65 games last season.
“I think I was pretty healthy the majority of the season,” Lopez said. “I had a little back injury, but that was a blip. A lot of it I think was just we’ve had a lot of turnover the past two, three, four years. It was good to know the staff, get on the same page with Lionel and getting to know a lot of the new guys’ playing styles. It’s not something that happens immediately; sometimes it happens quicker than other seasons, but it was a process and I think we’re peaking at the right time going into the playoffs. We were figuring each other out and we’re very confident with where we are now and we still think we can be even better.”
While Lopez’s back injury may have been a “blip” on the radar, his foot problems over the years have been well documented.
After playing three full seasons to begin his career, Lopez missed nearly two of the previous three seasons, appearing in only 96 combined games.
Now, Lopez has played his best basketball since becoming an All-Star in 2013, which presents him with a difficult looming decision whether to opt in or out of his $16.7 million player option this summer.
“He’s too much of an injury risk to opt in,” one general manager told SheridanHoops. “His value is close to the $16 million range now.”
One NBA scout offered a different view on the situation.
“Never walk away from $15 million,” the scout told SheridanHoops. “Plus, the cap jumps a year from now, so he would get more by waiting if he doesn’t get hurt.”
The phrase “if he doesn’t get hurt” is the giant elephant in the room for Lopez.
As I’ve previously written, several players will break the bank in free agency this summer. However, there will be more teams will available cap space in the summer of 2016 when the cap rises to $90 million.
In Lopez’s case, it may be more prudent to opt out now and cash in while his stock is hot. There’s no guarantee he’ll remain healthy through an entire season and has not done so in back-to-back seasons since 2010-11.
The rising salary cap and number of teams with available money to spend is irrelevant if Lopez fails to stay healthy and his value declines.
Therefore, don’t be surprised if the longest tenured Net on the roster hits the open market this summer.
If he opts out this summer, Lopez will join a loaded crop of definite unrestricted free agent centers including: Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, Tyson Chandler, Omer Asik, Robin Lopez and Brandan Wright.
If Lopez waits until 2016, he’ll join a smaller list of definite unrestricted free agent centers including Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Hassan Whiteside.
According to league sources, Lopez is not leaning one way or the other and his agent will wait until after the season to make an informed decision.
Michael Scotto is an NBA columnist for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeAScotto.
So what. He’s still injury-prone, a poor rebounder, and regularly takes defensive plays off. Right now all he’s playing for is himself and his next contract.