While Brook Lopez isn't with the Milwaukee Bucks anymore, plenty of fans still have a soft spot for the big man, given his role on the title team. For those who still follow the big man, they will be devastated to hear about Lopez's immediate future, as the big man's team, the LA Clippers, just had any hope for the future stripped from them after the NBA made an example of them.
Kawhi verdict puts Clippers in NBA's darkest spot
With the NBA finding evidence that the Clippers circumvented the cap to give Kawhi Leonard's camp during his time with the team, they wanted to send a message. The result? The Clippers having five of their future first-round picks stripped, their owner being fined $30 million, and several figureheads in this mess being suspended. That type of penalty can crush a franchise.
Before this, very few people thought of the Clippers as a legitimate title contender. They have some nice pieces, but with Kawhi Leonard now likely heading to Toronto, they've lost their superstar edge. They are a team full of solid role players, and a team with that description that is also without its draft picks for five years isn't improving rapidly anytime soon. For now, the Clippers are stuck in the mud.
For 38-year-old Brook Lopez, who is nearing the end of his career, this would be a brutal way to spend his final days.
Perhaps Lopez's career doesn't end here
With an expiring contract worth $9.2 million, it wouldn't be shocking if Lopez got traded or received a buyout this season. A team on the hunt for another center, such as the rival Los Angeles Lakers, may be in the market for another big body. Lopez himself would likely welcome the opportunity, giving him an opportunity to chase another championship.
One team, on the other hand, that wouldn't make much sense for Lopez is the Milwaukee Bucks. Even though he was successful during his time in Milwaukee, the Bucks have pivoted to a youth movement and employ three useful centers in Myles Turner, Jericho Sims, and Kel'el Ware. They don't need yet another big man on a roster that already has too many bodies at the moment.
Speaking of the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA will now have all eyes on them as they look into a sketchy deal made by the team earlier this summer.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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