On of the biggest priorities for the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason is to re-sign center Brook Lopez. While most reports indicate that Lopez is likely to re-sign with Milwaukee, other reports stated that the Houston Rockets were going to make a big push for the Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Those reports, though, took a massive hit this week. Two NBA insiders with sources close to both the Rockets and Lopez have reported that a deal between the two parties is “not happening.” Additionally, one NBA insider called Khris Middleton’s return to Milwaukee “all but assured.”
Brook Lopez Is Likely to Re-Sign with the Milwaukee Bucks, Khris Middleton to Return
Michael Grange of SportsNet wrote a possible deal between Lopez and Houston:
“Another source with knowledge of the situation in Houston suggested the possibility of the Rockets’ signing Lopez is overblown — ‘not happening.’”
Furthermore, reputable NBA insider Marc Stein wrote:
” In related news, league sources say that Milwaukee is indeed in a promising position when it comes to re-signing both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez.
“My sense is that a new deal for Middleton is all but assured at this point, while word is Lopez — despite Houston’s well-chronicled interest and the presumed threat to a Rockets bid would carry — is likewise leaning toward a Bucks return.”
This is certainly great news for the Bucks organization. If Lopez and Middleton leave in free agency, they will lose two of their four best players and have no extra salary cap space to sign other players. However, the Bucks are able to go over the cap to re-sign both players because they own both of their Bird rights.
Late last night, backup point guard Jevon Carter declined his player option will become a free agent. With his option declined, the Bucks only have six players under contract for next season.
Lopez and Middleton coming back will bring the total to eight, and presumably the Bucks will sign at least one of their second round picks from this past NBA Draft, if not both of them.
There Will Be No Sign-and Trades
One of the things that is often suggested (demanded) in Bucks fan groups is that the team sign-and-trade Middleton for another star player to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo. This, however, is not going to happen.
In a recent free agency guide published by The Athletic, insider Eric Nehm states:
“There are scenarios where Middleton and Lopez might not end up on the team next season, but for the most part, those hypotheticals are not realistically going to be positive for the Bucks.
“Sign-and-trade deals rarely net strong returns for the team signing and trading their player, and losing either Middleton or Lopez will leave the Bucks in a spot where it’s unlikely the roster is better next season.:
To be perfectly frank, the expectations have changed in Milwaukee. The Bucks are now a franchise that expects to compete for a championship every single year. The simple fact of the matter is (whether some fans want to accept it or not) is that Middleton and Lopez give Milwaukee their best chance of having a championship-caliber roster.
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