After seven years with the Milwaukee Bucks, Brook Lopez will officially be on a new team next season, as ESPN's Shams Charania says he's heading to the Clippers. While it stings to see the big man go after such a successful and memorable stint, it does serve as a needed departure for the Bucks, who must look to change up their on-court style of play next season as they aim to contend.
Bucks officially need a new starting center; they might have one
For many years, Lopez anchored Milwaukee's formidable drop defense, especially in his first years in Milwaukee. However, that style of play has gradually become less reliable, with opponents finding out they can expose Lopez defensively by dragging him out to the perimeter. It was this predicament that got the big man benched in Milwaukee's first-round series against Indiana this past season.
It's time to switch up the formula, and with Brook Lopez now gone, it appears the Milwaukee Bucks understand this.
The Milwaukee Bucks took the first step to make this thought process a reality by re-signing big man Bobby Portis. Although Portis isn't an uber-athletic, versatile big man, he is younger and more mobile than Lopez. Late last season, most of Milwaukee's best lineups came when Portis was playing the five over Lopez, meaning a promotion may be in the cards for BP.
With Lopez gone and Portis locked in on a new deal, the next big domino for the Milwaukee Bucks at the center spot is who fills the backup five spot. Jericho Sims, who spent the final part of last season in Milwaukee after coming over via trade, seems like the most obvious fit, but it's hard to predict just how things will go down in NBA Free Agency.
Lopez ends his Bucks tenure averaging 13 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 1.3 assists across 469 regular season contests. The big man, of course, also earned two All-Defensive nods and was one of the most vital cogs on the 2021 title team. No matter how things ended, Brook Lopez will be remembered as a Milwaukee legend for his efforts during that run alone.
This free agency period is shaping up to be a chaotic one for the Milwaukee Bucks, who have a lot of work to do if they truly want to reshape their roster this summer.
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