Report: Rockets Told Brook Lopez Last Summer Bucks Could Trade Him

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Milwaukee Bucks are gauging the trade value for Brook Lopez.

The Houston Rockets, who tried to sign Lopez last summer, told the big man this could happen. 

“League personnel told Yahoo Sports the Bucks are open to reshaping their roster, and they are gauging the trade value for Brook Lopez,” Fischer wrote. “Houston, sources said, cautioned Lopez that re-signing with Milwaukee could very well lead to him eventually being traded when the Rockets pursued Lopez in free agency a year ago.”

Lopez will make $23 million next season in the final year of his contract. 

The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games. 

Lopez appeared in 79 games for the Bucks in 2023-24. He averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.5 steals and 2.4 blocks while shooting 48.5% from the field, 36.6% from beyond the arc and 82.1% from the free-throw line. 

A one-time All-Star, Lopez helped the Bucks win the 2021 NBA title over the Phoenix Suns. He has career averages of 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.9 blocks with the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Bucks. 

NBA insider Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer proposed that the Bucks trade Lopez to the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, who will likely be traded. 

“There are rumblings that the Bucks would like to play a more versatile style of defense next season, which raises the question of whether Brook Lopez has a future there,” O’Connor wrote. “Trading Brook Lopez for Brown is a perfect match of salaries, and then the Raptors could flip Lopez elsewhere. The amount of screening and cutting Brown could do in support of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard would be glorious to watch.”

Brown has a team option worth $23 million for next season. The Raptors are expected to pick up the club option and trade the combo guard.