More on Robin Lopez Free Agency
The Wizards have agreed to terms with center Robin Lopez, according to Yahoo Sports' Keith Smith. It's a one-year deal for slightly less than the full mid-level exception.
While he declined his $5 million player option for next season late last week, Robin Lopez isn’t necessarily destined to leave the Bucks. A league source tells The Athletic his decision was motivated by a desire to keep his freedom to choose where he plays next season and avoid getting thrown into a trade by the Bucks.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Milwaukee Bucks center Robin Lopez is declining his $5M player option and becoming a free agent, source tells ESPN.
Bobby Marks: Monday deadline for player options Anthony Davis: $28.8M DeMar DeRozan: $27.7M Mike Conley Jr. : $34.5M Evan Fournier: $17.0M Robin Lopez : $5.0M Nic Batum: $27.1M Tony Snell: $12.2M Stanley Johnson: $3.8M Wesley Matthews : $2.7M My guess is we go 7/9 on opt-in
Luxury Tax: While last season was far more pressing with so many important players hitting free agency, Bucks ownership has another opportunity to prove it is willing to spend. Doing so would also make a material difference because Milwaukee is only about $11 million below the tax line, assuming Robin Lopez picks up his $5 million player option. If the tax is a hard line, Horst will have to figure out how to retain Matthews and whichever free agents the Bucks want back while ideally using the Mid-Level exception to add depth and also fill out the roster. One key indicator will be what happens with Ersan Ilyasova because the veteran has a $7 million salary that does not guarantee until shortly after the 2020 Draft.
Matt Velazquez: League source confirms the @Chris Haynes report that the Bucks are signing Robin Lopez using their full Room exception ($4.8 million). It's a two-year deal with a player option in the second year.
Chris Haynes: Free agent center Robin Lopez has reached an agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
New York has targeted free-agent center Robin Lopez to be the potential backup for Mitchell Robinson, according to league sources.
Chris Mannix: For Boston, the next step -- barring a significant trade -- will be finding a big with the $4.6 million room exception. Robin Lopez -- who has killed the Celtics in recent years -- is a possibility, though he may reel in a bigger offer.
After the Bulls held their final practice of the season at the United Center, Lopez made it clear he's willing to stay on board with the rebuilding project. "I would love to be with these guys," he said. "I love the guys I'm playing with right now. I love them."
Asked Monday to ponder his value, Lopez at first deferred, then made a sales pitch. "There's always going to be a market for -- I guess here I go patting myself on the back -- but you know, smart, intelligent, tall big guys," he said. "If you know your way around the basketball court, if you know what you're supposed to be doing out there to help yourself and help out other guys, height's something that they obviously say you can't teach. That's something that's tough to go against."
It’s been widely reported that the Bulls are open to re-signing Lopez and Lopez told me before a road game in Orlando that he’s open to re-signing. That said, I do think it’s more likely that Lopez is gone. He wants, and deserves, to play. And if healthy, Markkanen and Carter are going to play a lot. Yes, you need at least a three- and possibly four-man rotation for the power forward and center. However, Boylen also has talked about trying Markkanen at center and Porter at power forward in some smaller lineups. ... So if it’s not Lopez, look for similarly-minded veterans to be added in free agency.
Players, coaches and management all have insisted on how important center Robin Lopez has been to the rebuild, so much so that the Bulls didn’t want to buy him out the last month for the stretch run. With Lopez facing free agency this summer, and staring at a backup role with the Bulls if he does return, what are the chances that the mutual admiration brings him back? “Robin has been terrific for us,’’ Paxson said. “We’ll keep an open mind on that, absolutely.’’
And even when Wendell Carter Jr. returns, it likely will be half time at power forward given he’s only about 6-10. It seems now Robin’s return for next season will be under consideration, which it wasn’t last summer.
What Boylen didn’t hesitate to say, however, was he would be all in on Lopez returning to the Bulls to see this rebuild through. “It’s his decision, but any program, including us, would be grateful for him,’’ Boylen said, when asked if he would make the case to general manager Gar Forman to pursue bringing Lopez back. “If he wants to be a part of what we’re doing that would be great. Obviously the business side of it is the business side of it, but Bulls across his chest means something. Even through all the trade rumors, all the junk that goes on before the deadline, he has a winning attitude and a great spirit.’’
“First of all, he brings a maturity and a work ethic,’’ Boylen said. “Practice is very important to him. His practice reps are very important to him. He fights for those, which I love when guys do that. He’s punctual, which is big for me. He cares about his craft. He’s an example to our young guys. He speaks up for the protection of the essence of the team, which I love and we need. Besides what he does on the floor, in the pocket and on the boards. His communication and his selflessness, those are great too. But he’s a team guy, he’s a winning player, and I’m just thankful he’s here.’’
Free-agent center Robin Lopez has agreed in principle to a four-year, $54 million contract with the New York Knicks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Knicks are finalizing a four-year, $54 million agreement with free agent center Robin Lopez, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
New York met with Robin Lopez on Wednesday night in Los Angeles and one source said after the meeting that there was mutual interest between the Knicks and the free-agent big man.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Another serious consideration for Robin Lopez: The Lakers.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Free agent center Robin Lopez discussing deal with Knicks that would earn him in range of $12M-$13M per season, league sources tell Yahoo.
The Knicks have $19 million to spend and still have their eyes on a big man. They met with Robin Lopez on Wednesday night and, according to a source with knowledge of the talks, Lopez came away with a positive impression of New York. “Interest is mutual, that’s for sure,” a source said.
David Aldridge: Bucks, who wanted an audience with Tyson Chandler, just completed meeting with free agent center Robin Lopez, per source.
Ian Begley: #Knicks have planned to meet with FA center Robin Lopez in Los Angeles while in town to meet with LaMarcus Aldridge, league sources say.
