Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Bucks have no plans to trade one-time All-Star

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Sep 1, 2024 3:45 PM ET

Brook Lopez is entering the final year of his two-year, $48 million contract extension. The veteran big man will become an unrestricted free agent next summer unless he negotiates a longer stay with the Milwaukee Bucks during the upcoming season. Milwaukee may want to wait and see what type of impact Lopez makes once the new basketball calendar begins, as he looked a step slow throughout the 2023-24 campaign.

Lopez's struggles last season led to rumors that he could be traded this summer. However, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Milwaukee's front office had no plans to move on from their defensive anchor and relayed a similar message directly to Lopez.

“As of right now, I’ve been told firmly that they are not trading him,” Windhorst said via a recent episode of "The Hoop Collective" podcast. “And so is Brook. Brook heard some of the rumors and said, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ They’re like, ‘No, we’re not trading you.'”

During an interview with The Athletic's Eric Nehm in July, Milwaukee GM Jon Horst confirmed that Lopez remains central to the Bucks' goals. When at his best, the veteran big man is one of the best drop defenders in the NBA and a reliable floor spacer on the offensive end.

"I typically don’t talk about any of this stuff with the media, but I will say, because Brook is so core to who we are, we have zero intentions of trading Brook,” Horst said. "... Brook has been and will continue to be core to who we are.”

Lopez is 36 years old. Eventually, his ability to positively impact games as a starting-caliber center will begin to wane. As such, he may need to accept that a role on a contending team's bench is in his future, should he choose to remain in the league beyond the upcoming season.

In recent years, the Bucks have built their defensive system around Lopez. Doc Rivers may look to ease that pressure on his veteran center as he molds the team into a potential championship contender.

Milwaukee is sticking with Lopez for now. He could play a part in getting the franchise back on track following consecutive first-round playoff exits. However, if he struggles to keep pace during the upcoming season, his time in Milwaukee will likely draw to a close.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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