The 2023 free agent class isn’t as packed as some previous classes, but there are some big names on the market regardless. James Harden and Kyrie Irving are the two biggest names, but both are expected to return to their current franchises.
Another star expected to return to his current franchise is Brook Lopez, who is in free agency after five seasons with the Bucks. When asked about his free agency decision on ESPN, Lopez said he wants to play in either Montreal or Seattle, two places without an NBA team right now.
“I was thinking Montreal, but they don’t even have a baseball team anymore. My choice really would be Seattle, honestly. The SuperSonics unfortunately went away the year I was drafted, so I feel like I won’t get the chance. I think the year I leave is the year they will come back.”
Brook Lopez has a few thoughts on his free agency decision 😅
(via @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/curOnWVweO
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 28, 2023
A lot of people believe the return of Seattle as an NBA franchise is inevitable given the strong basketball culture in the city. Even 16 years after seeing their beloved franchise move to Oklahoma City, Seattle is patiently waiting for a franchise to come back.
Fadeaway World had asked NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum about the same earlier this month, and he was coy about expansion plans, saying the decision is still a few years away.
Where Will Brook Lopez Go?
Brook Lopez finished as the runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting and is one of the most proficient big man shooters in the league, converting 37.4% of his 4.7 three-point attempts last season. That should imply incredibly high value on the market especially with his per-game averages last season being 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks.
Unfortunately, Lopez’s age means that most contending teams linked with him are willing to offer him the non-tax mid-level exception of $12.7 million. The Bucks should pay him more and reward him for his contributions to the franchise becoming a contender, even with him being 35 years old.
The red herring could come from the Houston Rockets, who need to fill up cap space this summer and could be willing to pay a veteran like Lopez a premium on a two-year contract that could net him $60 million over two seasons.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
