It didn't take long at all for Brook Lopez to acclimate himself to playing for a new franchise despite the change of scenery coming after seven years in Milwaukee. Throughout the preseason, the former Bucks center has been a shot in the arm for the LA Clippers, fortifying the notion that they have one of the best frontcourts in the entire NBA.
Brook Lopez's new role will help him with Clippers
After serving as a starter with the Milwaukee Bucks throughout his entire tenure, Lopez will transition to a bench role in Los Angeles. At 37, his body simply isn't built for the heavy-duty workload that one must be capable of to start, so this was a great decision by him. Furthering that notion is how fresh he has looked off LA's bench in the preseason.
Through three preseason games, Lopez has averaged 13.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 53.3 percent from downtown. He's given them a significant boost, providing the same two-way jolt that helped revive his career in Milwaukee. If he keeps playing like this, the two-year, $18 million deal he signed with Los Angeles could end up being a great move.
With Ivica Zubac starting at center and John Collins capable of sliding to the five in smaller lineups, the Clippers can keep Lopez fresh with a lighter workload. That's not a luxury he had in Milwaukee.
That said, Lopez's strong preseason shouldn't keep the Milwaukee Bucks up at night. While he was still capable of helping, Lopez didn't fit in whatsoever with Milwaukee's roster makeover focused on youth and athleticism. Had they kept Lopez, they would have been significantly hampered on both ends of the floor due to his age and lack of speed, mobility, and athletic ability.
It was so essential that the Milwaukee Bucks got these things that they were willing to eat the dead money of Damian Lillard's contract over the next several years to get Myles Turner. So far, after an impressive 3-1 preseason stint, that looks like a good decision. It's a small sample size, but Turner has looked like the versatile big man Milwaukee has been longing for in recent years.
It will be weird not seeing Lopez trot out onto the court to begin games with the Bucks this season, but it comes as a necessary change.
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