Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: ‘Strong interest’ in signing Robin Lopez
By Adam McGee
The Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly interested in teaming up the Lopez twins, with Robin Lopez now rumored to be a target.
Feeling down about the Milwaukee Bucks parting ways with Malcolm Brogdon on the opening day of the free agency? Well how does a season full of Lopez twin high jinks sound as a remedy?
Having come to terms on a new contract worth four years, $52 million with Brook Lopez earlier on Sunday evening, the latest free agency rumblings suggest his brother could be emerging as a target for the Bucks.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Milwaukee is seriously considering the possibility of signing Robin Lopez.
Sources: The Bucks are expressing strong interest in free-agent center Robin Lopez to join his brother Brook in Milwaukee.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019
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Following Brogdon’s departure earlier in the day, along with new deals for Khris Middleton, George Hill and Brook, the Bucks have just the room exception ($4.7 million) and minimum deals left at their disposal and the most obvious way to spend that money for most would have been on a wing or guard.
Having said that, the Bucks have a meaningful weakness when it comes to depth at center, with Brook Lopez being the only natural 5 currently on the roster. That’s not to say Milwaukee doesn’t have options at that position, as each of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson are capable of soaking up spot minutes there if needed, but such a move would force a change in approach and scheme.
If the Bucks were able to land Robin Lopez, that would no longer be an issue. An outstanding defensive big who obviously has incredibly similar physical tools to his brother, Robin is the most seamless fit in the NBA to potentially soak up minutes when Brook is sitting, or if he was to miss time due to injury.
With the Philadelphia 76ers just having retooled their roster to put a frontcourt of Joel Embiid and Al Horford together, and the Indiana Pacers determined to play Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis as a duo, there’s also a real chance that the path through the East will now require the ability to roll out lineups containing two legitimate centers.
The Lopez twins have long enjoyed an NBA relationship built on poking fun at each other from a distance, but haven’t played together competitively since their days at Stanford. Robin made the trip to Conference Finals games to support his brother at the end of last season, and the Bucks will hope that he will also have gotten a closer look at a team he’d like to join.
dark. Next. Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: Malcolm Brogdon headed to Indiana in sign and trade deal
With so much money spent already in free agency, there’s considerably less cap space now available and individual players’ markets are much tougher to gauge. Where Robin falls on that spectrum remains to be seen, but the prospect of him pairing with his brother could lead to plenty of fun off the court in Milwaukee, and outstanding team defense on it.