Milwaukee Bucks: Regrading Robin Lopez’s two-year deal from 2019
By Dalton Sell
An overall regrade on Robin Lopez’s deal with the Milwaukee Bucks
Adam McGee was pretty spot on when he initially graded this deal and expressed optimism. It was viewed as a big win to have a quality starter willingly come in on an affordable deal and embrace a bench role, and Lopez lived up to the billing in that regard. While he eventually fell out of the mix in the postseason, he did his job until then.
As mentioned earlier, the Bucks cycled through a center trio of Henson, Maker, and a post-prime Gasol the season before, and adding a new big man was high on their to-do list. Due to their many limitations financially, especially after giving Brook, Khris Middleton, and George Hill new contracts that same offseason, signing a quality player like Lopez was great work by team general manager Jon Horst, who won the NBA’s Executive of the Year that summer.
Lopez never managed to be a difference-maker for Milwaukee, but he still provided solid play at the center position whenever he stepped on the floor. His stint with the Bucks lasted just one year as the big man declined his player option following the early playoff exit. The Athletic’s Eric Nehm (subscription required) reported that Lopez wanted to stay out of trade talks the Bucks engaged in during the 2020 offseason. Of course, the Bucks made big splashes for Jrue Holiday and tried to trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic that offseason, both deals that Lopez could have been in.
It was short, but Lopez’s stint with the Bucks was a decent move for Horst and the franchise.
BTBP Regrade: B
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Best of luck to Robin as he inked a deal with the Orlando Magic this offseason.