Provide presence on the glass
Yes, Lopez has never been a particularly strong rebounder throughout his 11-year career and his move out to the three-point line has decreased what had already been a pedestrian output for a player of his size and physical tools.
Yet, it’s Lopez’s size and physical tools that have provided a physical presence to give enough space for his teammates to corral loose balls and rebounding opportunities time and time again.
That bore out during Lopez’ brief homecoming with the Lakers last year on the defensive glass where the Lakers’ logged a 74.6 defensive rebounding percentage with Lopez on the floor and a 71.6 defensive rebounding percentage without him.
As my fellow co-site expert Adam McGee explored last week, having a savvy, strapping center of Lopez’s caliber will be to the benefit of the Bucks’ crop of strong individual rebounders at their position such as Antetokounmpo, Bledsoe and more.
Whether that will be enough to spur an increase in their team rebounding is the big question and it will be one to follow once the season tips off.