NBA Free Agency: Rockets 'Like' Bucks Center Brook Lopez
The Houston Rockets have a lot of ammo with $60 million in cap space this summer.
No team in the league has more money to work with than the Rockets and they are planning to use that money to sign several veterans to support the young core on the roster.
According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Rockets "like" Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez.
Lopez, 35, averaged 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.5 blocks per contest in 78 games last season for the Bucks en route to the best record in the NBA for the regular season. However, the Bucks fell in five games during the first round against the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. The opening series loss could have the Bucks re-thinking the configuration of their team.
Should he land in Houston, Lopez immediately fulfills a need for the Rockets in protecting the rim. Lopez was All-NBA Defensive First Team and would drastically change Houston's 29th-best defensive rating from this past season.
While it may create a logjam at the center position with Alperen Sengun, Lopez would only be a short-term option and he could provide some mentorship and tips to the young Turkish big man in how to protect the rim.
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