Brook Lopez's Woes... A Blessing in Disguise?

LOJ · Post #1 » by **LOJ** » Tue Feb 8, 2011 5:50 pm

It seems Lopez has regressed a tiny bit statistically so far this season. His frustration is pretty clear, and his contract is up after this season. We know what he can do, and the potential he has. Lopez isn't a terrible rebounder, we know this. Can he improve? Definitely. I'm sure Sam Mitchell and staff will work with Lopez and Favors very closely this off-season.

But what help would it do for Lopez to be tearing it up posting up 20 and 10 numbers, and us to be competing for a first round exit? We make the playoffs, we get swept, and then have to offer Brook a max contract. If anything this will shave a good chunk of cash off of Brook's contract, giving the Nets more flexibility.

Thoughts?

jeff1624 · Post #2 » by **jeff1624** » Tue Feb 8, 2011 6:10 pm

He's a restricted free agent in 2012.. not this year.

LOJ · Post #3 » by **LOJ** » Tue Feb 8, 2011 6:15 pm

jeff1624 wrote:He's a restricted free agent in 2012.. not this year.

Yup.... Beat me to the punch.

Aside from that, why are so many Nets fans asking for Brook's head?

infam0us · Post #4 » by **infam0us** » Tue Feb 8, 2011 8:28 pm

I think fans need to cut him some slack, third coach in 3 seasons as a player. He's 22 years old coming off an off-season where he lost some serious weight. Brook said he gained his weight back but lets be honest, putting 20-30 muscle back on in a couple of months isn't easy especially if its 20-30 pounds of muscle.

There have been some games where his weaknesses have really been detrimental to this team and has cost them some games but for the most part he's been very good.

Preludepunk27 · Post #5 » by **Preludepunk27** » Tue Feb 8, 2011 8:37 pm

LionOfJudah wrote:
jeff1624 wrote:He's a restricted free agent in 2012.. not this year.

Yup.... Beat me to the punch.

Aside from that, why are so many Nets fans asking for Brook's head?

Thank you! I've been yelling about that for a while now that we have bigger issues than Brook.

Even with his struggles, call any GM in the league right now and ask if they want Brook. The majority of them would still give up their first born for him. To put it this way:

If we put Brook instead of Favors into the Melo deal, Melo would be a Net right now.

vincecarter4pres · Post #6 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Wed Feb 9, 2011 1:19 am

So let me ask you a question...

Would you trade him for LaMarcus Aldridge?

What if we landed Kyrie Irving and there was a draft night deal of LMA for Devin and Brook?

Preludepunk27 · Post #7 » by **Preludepunk27** » Wed Feb 9, 2011 1:42 am

Devin & Brook for LMA. Man that is enticing. As good as LMA is playing, I feel we would need another player in the deal. Maybe Rudy or someone we could start at the 2 or their late first round pick.

Either way, I would really have to think long and hard about it. I think it is hard to really say what we'd do right now. I would want to know more about Derrick's progression and if I am comfortable about him playing center enough to move Brook.

vincecarter4pres · Post #8 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Wed Feb 9, 2011 2:15 am

Preludepunk27 wrote:Devin & Brook for LMA. Man that is enticing. As good as LMA is playing, I feel we would need another player in the deal. Maybe Rudy or someone we could start at the 2 or their late first round pick.

Either way, I would really have to think long and hard about it. I think it is hard to really say what we'd do right now. I would want to know more about Derrick's progression and if I am comfortable about him playing center enough to move Brook.

Well, IMO, LaMarcus is better off at center anyway, so I would keep Favors at PF if that ever happened.

The only centers in the league LMA really has problems with would be Dwight and Bogut, but on the real, who doesn't?

He's got legit size and length for the position and his athleticism is highly underrated, giving him a clear cut advantage over most of the leagues true centers.

He has actually been playing a lot of minutes at center this season and as you have seen has been pretty dominant since Roy went down.

I would do it without thinking twice. His contract is cheap relative to his production, he's youngm he's healthy and he seems like a high character guy.

Don't even necessarily think Portland would do it and they certainly wouldn't do it right now, it would only be a draft night deal if they had any interest, IMO.

SpeedyG · Post #9 » by **SpeedyG** » Wed Feb 9, 2011 1:41 pm

I was really low on LMA, but I have to admit the guy is balling right now. I agree that his talent to cost ratio has skyrocketed to what it was prior to the season starting.

Preludepunk27 · Post #10 » by **Preludepunk27** » Wed Feb 9, 2011 2:10 pm

I'm thinking if they gave us a heavily protected 1st with LMA, I'd say yes. Basically I'm talking about the first time we can use it would be like 2013 or 2014. We have enough picks over the next few years, that I'd plan well in advance.

Of course, this would all hinder on a PG we get in the draft.

bobbyc · Post #11 » by **bobbyc** » Wed Feb 9, 2011 11:43 pm

No way would i trade him. Three years from now, Brook will be a better player than LMA and we are obviously in no rush to win. Brook has had a rough year. Brook and LMA posted similar numbers if you look at LMA three years ago, and Brook is coming off a summer where he had mono and lost 15 lbs. LMA is great now but Brook has the potential to be better. Plus contract wise Brook is still on his rookie contract for like 2 years. Plus adding Devin, you just crazy.

Talentfull · Post #12 » by **Talentfull** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:30 am

Pff, I don't buy the Brook has better potential argument. I'll do that trade in a heartbeat. Portland will refuse it though. That's just how good LMA has been.

kasino · Post #13 » by **kasino** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:13 pm

Brook is use to being the offensive focus and he do such, goes for early seals alot and pretty sure thats whats asked of him.
I think we need to slow it down if his rebounding is that improtant but really think thats supposed to be Favors role.

Effigy · Post #14 » by **Effigy** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:07 am

I think you guys have a very hard decision to make on Brook. He can get an extension after this year (unless CBA rules change) and his play isn't going to change his value, he'll be looking at max. Do you give him Rudy Gay money? Why? So your team can stay bad? I always hated it when teams like Goldenstate overpaid their young guys like Murphy, Dunleavy and Foyle when they weren't helping them win. To be honest, I'd look to move Brook. Don't dump him, but the Curry idea, I'd be all over that (except Curry was the same draft class so you have the same issue) Try to move him for a high pick or two. Call the Clippers and ask for Jordan and Minny's first round pick as your starting point (You would need more of course, maybe Amino, maybe their first this year, something). Build around young players and high draft picks all taken at the same time so the whole team gets good at once.

vincecarter4pres · Post #15 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:16 am

Bonzi wrote:I think you guys have a very hard decision to make on Brook. He can get an extension after this year (unless CBA rules change) and his play isn't going to change his value, he'll be looking at max. Do you give him Rudy Gay money? Why? So your team can stay bad? I always hated it when teams like Goldenstate overpaid their young guys like Murphy, Dunleavy and Foyle when they weren't helping them win. To be honest, I'd look to move Brook. Don't dump him, but the Curry idea, I'd be all over that (except Curry was the same draft class so you have the same issue) Try to move him for a high pick or two. Call the Clippers and ask for Jordan and Minny's first round pick as your starting point (You would need more of course, maybe Amino, maybe their first this year, something). Build around young players and high draft picks all taken at the same time so the whole team gets good at once.

So much wrong with this post.

I just saw your interesting idea on the Portland board that we should send you Brook for a 1st or two in order to dump Outlaw, that was cute...

On to this post...

Curry and Brook, not the same draft class...

Comparing Brook to Adonal Foyle, Troy Murphy and Dunleavy, offensive.

Max contract? Not entirely out of the question, but Horford, LMA and Noah all just got deals hovering around 60 for 5 years under a current CBA.

Call LAC for that package? It's not bad value at all, but there's a certain low that you can't sink to more than once and hope to stay afloat as an NBA franchise. I think one 12 win season was enough, don't you? I don't think we need to follow that up with an 8 win one...

Build around picks and youth, we're already doing that. Brook is 22, Favors is 19, Morrow is 24, we have a plethora of picks, at least 2 likely to be high lotto.

There is no hard decision to make.
We keep Brook, or we trade him if a no brainer deal comes around.
If he never develops further, he's still a very nice player, a legit 3rd option on a contender type, just not an alpha or the franchise guy we once kidded ourselves into thinking we had.
If he gets better, we have a Pau Gasol, LMA type, a perfect 2nd option.
If not he's our Chris Bosh, Nene, or healthy prime Mehmet Okur type.

Effigy · Post #16 » by **Effigy** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 4:12 pm

vincecarter4pres wrote:
Bonzi wrote:I think you guys have a very hard decision to make on Brook. He can get an extension after this year (unless CBA rules change) and his play isn't going to change his value, he'll be looking at max. Do you give him Rudy Gay money? Why? So your team can stay bad? I always hated it when teams like Goldenstate overpaid their young guys like Murphy, Dunleavy and Foyle when they weren't helping them win. To be honest, I'd look to move Brook. Don't dump him, but the Curry idea, I'd be all over that (except Curry was the same draft class so you have the same issue) Try to move him for a high pick or two. Call the Clippers and ask for Jordan and Minny's first round pick as your starting point (You would need more of course, maybe Amino, maybe their first this year, something). Build around young players and high draft picks all taken at the same time so the whole team gets good at once.

So much wrong with this post.

I just saw your interesting idea on the Portland board that we should send you Brook for a 1st or two in order to dump Outlaw, that was cute...

On to this post...

Curry and Brook, not the same draft class...

Comparing Brook to Adonal Foyle, Troy Murphy and Dunleavy, offensive.

Max contract? Not entirely out of the question, but Horford, LMA and Noah all just got deals hovering around 60 for 5 years under a current CBA.

Call LAC for that package? It's not bad value at all, but there's a certain low that you can't sink to more than once and hope to stay afloat as an NBA franchise. I think one 12 win season was enough, don't you? I don't think we need to follow that up with an 8 win one...

Build around picks and youth, we're already doing that. Brook is 22, Favors is 19, Morrow is 24, we have a plethora of picks, at least 2 likely to be high lotto.

There is no hard decision to make.
We keep Brook, or we trade him if a no brainer deal comes around.
If he never develops further, he's still a very nice player, a legit 3rd option on a contender type, just not an alpha or the franchise guy we once kidded ourselves into thinking we had.
If he gets better, we have a Pau Gasol, LMA type, a perfect 2nd option.
If not he's our Chris Bosh, Nene, or healthy prime Mehmet Okur type.

Well first of all, I said the draftpicks are only a starting point, and I said they probably wouldn't make such a trade, but we should ask just to be sure. I would never suggest something like that on your board.

Yes your guys are young but they're not all looking for contracts at the same time. Brook can have an extension this year, while this is only Favors' rookie year, and Morrow isn't a piece you build around. I think teams don't build correctly, they get one or two good young players who make them too good to keep getting the highest draft picks, but not good enough to contend and then they lock them into long term contracts when they aren't helping them really win. I like Brook a lot, but his play this year is a little concerning. He hasn't made the leaps from his rookie year that you'd expect. He's down in all categories from last year except points, but his shooting percentages are all down, so he's getting half a point more per game but shooting disproportionately more to get it. I don't mean to offend by the suggestion, you definately shouldn't sell him for pennies on the dollar, but if it were me I'd try to move him for a larger group of young talent to combine with your own picks that will st ay high due to you staying bad a few more years.

Post #17 » by **Luv those Knicks** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:40 pm

NVM - thought this was still on the general board.

vergogna · Post #18 » by **vergogna** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:07 am

Hello Nets fans, I have a question

http://bkref.com/tiny/FHoBf

Bargnani averages 4.2 defensive rebounds per game (drb% 14.4)
Lopez averages 3.5 defensive rebounds per game (drb% 12.4)

Bargnani is touted, deservedly or not, as one of the worst rebounders to ever play in the league, and his numbers are a main concern (to the point of obsession) for the Raptors fans.

How do you cope with this?

Effigy · Post #19 » by **Effigy** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 4:09 am

vergogna wrote:Hello Nets fans, I have a question

http://bkref.com/tiny/FHoBf

Bargnani averages 4.2 defensive rebounds per game (drb% 14.4)
Lopez averages 3.5 defensive rebounds per game (drb% 12.4)

Bargnani is touted, deservedly or not, as one of the worst rebounders to ever play in the league, and his numbers are a main concern (to the point of obsession) for the Raptors fans.

How do you cope with this?

I'm guessing it's because it's half a season for Brook vs 5 years for Bargs. Brooks isn't the rebounder he should be, but he's far better than Bargs.