Father time remains undefeated, but so do scheme and fit. With Brook Lopez nearing 38 years old and the Milwaukee Bucks looking to get younger, faster, and more athletic this past summer, it made sense for them to part ways with the big man. The Clippers, who did not have similar goals in mind, gladly picked up Lopez. They are quickly learning why the Bucks let him walk.
Brook Lopez is off to a rough start with the LA Clippers
It's been a rough start for Brook Lopez. In nine games, he's averaging seven points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, and 0.2 assists per game. His trademark long-range shooting that made him such a valuable piece in Milwaukee has been nowhere to be found, as he's shooting 32.5 percent from deep. To make it all worse, the Clippers are 13th in the West at 3-6. It's not all Lopez's fault, but he hasn't helped.
The Clippers' strategy looks a lot like what the Milwaukee Bucks had been doing over the years: Stack together as many recognizable veterans as possible and hope it works. On paper, they are talented. A team with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and Brook Lopez has a handful of Hall of Famers and All-Stars. Yet, age and fit have hindered LA's ceiling so far.
Meanwhile, the Bucks wanted to get younger this summer, and they spared no expense in doing so. Myles Turner had a slow start, but he's been heating up lately, now shooting 40 percent from three while averaging two blocks per game. Milwaukee's $109 million many has been worth every penny, making this defense far more versatile and fluid than it had been in past seasons.
With Lopez, the Bucks were often stuck playing drop defense to accommodate his clear lack of mobility and athleticism. With Turner, they haven't had that issue, and it's catapulted this defense to new heights. Turner's play on that end has been contagious, as everyone else has followed his lead and elevated this younger, versatile group.
The Bucks were already justified in letting Lopez walk when it became clear that he was going to LA to be a backup, showing that a role change was needed. However, his play early this season has only vindicated them further. The big man will always be a Milwaukee legend for his efforts during the title run in 2021, but it was clearly time for the two to part ways when they did.
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