Milwaukee Bucks: Gauging the stock of their impending free agents

Gauging the stock of the Milwaukee Bucks’ impending free agents – Robin Lopez

Although he’s not certain to be a free agent this offseason, Robin Lopez very well could join those who are hitting the open market.

Lopez came to Milwaukee last summer after signing a two-year deal worth $10 million by way of the Bucks’ room exception last offseason. The second year of Lopez’s contract, though, contains a $5 million player option for next year.

As far off as Lopez’s decision remains from being locked in, there’s plenty of reason to believe Lopez will opt in to his deal for next season, even if he played his fewest minutes in a campaign since becoming a full-time starting center before his Bucks stint.

Still, it’s fair for Lopez to wonder what his role will look like next season, especially after playing just 21 total playoff minutes and not seeing the floor at all during the Bucks’ Conference Semifinals series against the Miami Heat.

The 32-year-old may feel he still has something to offer in a decently-sized role in a team’s rotation and consider taking his chances by opting out. Under that scenario, it’s hard to envision Lopez making more than the $5 million he’s due with the Bucks. And it’s not as if the Bucks have a solution present on their roster, should Lopez end up deciding to opt out his contract as well.

We shall wait on Lopez’s decision for the time being, but he did acclimate himself to a role and to the Bucks’ system in a way he hadn’t shown to this point in his 12-year career, especially offensively. And he could always build on that if he sticks around for one more season.