Multiple NBA clubs are awaiting word on the future of unrestricted free agent center Brook Lopez, who has spent his past five seasons with the Bucks, per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Fischer reports that “increasing word” on Friday suggests the Rockets may bid in excess of the two-year, $40MM deal that has been floated as a possibility.
Lopez, 35, has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Milwaukee. The seven-footer has been named to two All-Defensive Teams and won his first championship during his Bucks tenure, while totally transforming his game, from being a fringe All-Star post scorer while with the Nets to the gritty 3-and-D role player he is now.
In 78 regular season games for the 58-24 Bucks last season, the former Stanford big man posted averages of 15.9 PPG on .531/.374/.784 shooting splits, in addition to 6.7 RPG, 2.5 BPG and 1.3 APG. He was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Here are further free agent rumors:
- Free agent point guard Dalano Banton met with the Celtics on Friday, according to Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board (via Twitter). The 6’9″ vet out of Nebraska had spent both of his NBA seasons to date with the Raptors. In 31 contests, last year, he averaged 4.6 PPG, 1.5 RPG and 1.2 APG.
- The Celtics, Suns, Bucks, Mavericks and Raptors are among the teams with some level of interest in free agent former Kings shooting guard Terence Davis, according to Mark Jones of ESPN and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter links).
- According to Fischer (Twitter link), the Spurs have emerged as a possible third team in a rumored sign-and-trade deal that would send Heat free agent shooting guard Max Strus to the Cavaliers. Sources tell Fischer that Cleveland has been looking to offload the contract of swingman Cedi Osman, whom Miami presumably has no interest in taking on. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports (via Twitter) that the Heat are aiming to create a trade exception and a future second-round draft selection in any sign-and-trade involving Strus.
Rumors
Strus is signing $64mm contract with Cavs
Yes FVV was overpaid but that is what the rockets needed. They needed a veteran to come in and install a new culture to the rockets. They are the laughing stock of the nba and haven’t even won 1/4 of their games in the last 3 years. Rockets really need to get Brook Lopez at this point to make this all worth while. Sure might just make the rockets a playin team but how did that work out for the Miami Heat last year.
If Brook Lopez somehow landed on GSW I would call it a perfect offseason no matter what else happened.
Banton would be a really dangerous addition for Boston
And Davis would make a lot of sense for Phormix, Dallas, or Boston, of those teams mentioned for sure
Strus is streaky and could possibly be too expensive for a reserve role. I’d rather rope with Cedi who only has 1/$9 mil left on his contract Ashe is about the equivalent to Strus from the 3pt. I think Cedi could be a starter if given minutes
I wish, steph…