Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez has been astounding this season, and he is expected to opt out of his contract after the season and test the free agency market. New York Knicks president Phil Jackson, whose top priority is to acquire a low-post center this summer, reportedly is interested in the 7-footer.
Lopez reportedly is confident he can find a better deal on the market than the $16.7 million option he has next season with the Nets.
"Most execs expect Lopez to opt out and enter free agency after rampaging across the league over the last month," Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote Tuesday.
Lopez isn't the best defender, and the biggest question surrounding him is whether he can stay healthy. The 27-year-old, who's coming off a season-ending broken foot, has a lengthy history of injuries and hasn't played a full season since 2010-11.
Helping to assuage those concerns, though, is the fact Lopez has managed to stay healthy for most of this season. He's played in all but 10 games this season, and he hasn't missed any games since late December. Even better for his value this summer, Lopez has improved over the season and put up elite numbers - 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game - in the month of March.
Those numbers have apparently caught Jackson's eye, too.
"Of all their needs in surrounding Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks most want a low-post center to anchor the triangle offense. Two of those potential free agents are Lopez, who has an opt-out clause and could become a free agent, and Detroit's Greg Monroe, who will play at MSG in the season finale on April 15," Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote Thursday.
Jackson's top target is believed to be Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, although most believe the Spaniard will re-sign with the Grizzlies after the season. Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor and Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns, depending on who you ask, are also reportedly being eyed if either of them are still on the draft board when New York's pick comes up.
