While the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to close out their season strong in 2025, some are already looking ahead to the offseason. The Bucks have a few free agents they will have to deal with once the 2024-25 campaign comes to a close, and despite his age, one veteran big man is drawing interest from across the league as one of the best players available at his position.
Milwaukee Bucks Center Brook Lopez Figures to Garner Lots of Interest in Free Agency
The Milwaukee Bucks have a few players entering free agency this offseason, including several key veterans like Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, and recent acquisition Kevin Porter Jr. However, one other name is the one some are calling a “Tier 1 Free Agent” at his position – Brook Lopez.
The man known as Splash Mountain has put together another decent season at age 37. Averaging over 13 points, 7 rebounds, and almost 2 blocks per game, Lopez continues to show he still has some to offer quality teams. He has shot over 37% from three-point land as well.
While some criticize Lopez for needing to be used in drop coverage, a defensive scheme that allows for more open perimeter shots in pick-and-roll at the expense of better rim protection, he is still a quality defensive piece. While not the defensive anchor he once was in his younger days, Lopez can still provide good things for a contending team on both ends.
Lopez is regarded as one of the best centers set to be available this summer.
There’s a lot of center options on the free agent market this summer
Tier 1:
Myles Turner
Brook LopezTier 2:
Steven Adams
Kevon Looney
Luke KornetTier 3:
Andre Drummond
Moritz Wagner
Clint Capela
Jaxson Hayes
Jericho Sims— Taylor Wyman (@taylormetrics) April 8, 2025
What Teams Could Be Interested in Lopez?
The Bucks could opt to once again re-sign Lopez, as they did in the summer of 2023. While some fans were critical of the move at the time, Lopez has remained fairly steady since he inked his two-year, 48-million-dollar deal. However, the Bucks have not had much team success since then, losing in the first round of two consecutive playoff series.
In 2023, Lopez received significant interest from the Houston Rockets. With the team now set to enter their first postseason appearance since 2020, how much success Houston has could dictate if they once again prioritize Lopez in the offseason. The veteran big man could help their young core continue to grow while also helping to space the floor next to a player like Alperen Şengün. The Rockets already have a veteran big on the roster in Steven Adams, but he is also out of contract this summer. The team could see Lopez as an upgrade.
The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers also were linked with Lopez in 2023. However, a lot has changed with both teams in the two years since Lopez was last on the market. Miami could certainly be looking for a frontcourt partner for Bam Adebayo as they look to get their franchise back on track after the Jimmy Butler saga.
Although Lopez has played for the Lakers in the past, Los Angeles does not seem like a likely destination. While Lopez is a good offensive player, the Luka Dončić-era Lakeshow are more in need of an above-the-rim threat as opposed to a spacing big. After their failed attempt at trading for Charlotte’s Mark Williams, the Lakers have rolled with Jaxson Hayes so far this season.
Lopez could certainly help the Lakers in other ways, but Rob Pelinka is far more likely to allocate resources to other needs first before a luxury big. Despite his age, Lopez is likely to command around $10 million a year, albeit in a short-term deal.
Whether or not the Bucks see Lopez as a priority this offseason remains to be seen, but time is running out to assemble a true title contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo. This offseason will be critical for Milwaukee.
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