Brook Lopez signs with Bucks to give them frontcourt spacing

Brook Lopez has signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, giving them some much needed frontcourt help.

The Milwaukee Bucks have been searching for reliable frontcourt help for years now. On Sunday afternoon, they may have found just the center Giannis Antetokounmpo has been searching for. According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, the Bucks will sign Brook Lopez to a one-year deal with their bi-annual exception, worth $3.3 million.

Lopez started in 72 games for the Lakers last season, averaging 13 points and four rebounds. Perhaps most importantly, he shot 34 percent from three. The strength of his game is in the post, but he’s shown the ability to stretch behind the three-point line in the past two seasons. With the additions of Lopez and Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee has two frontcourt players who can stretch the floor alongside Antetokounmpo.

This signing calls into question Jabari Parker’s place in the Milwaukee rotation. The Bucks forward currently sits as a restricted free agent with little to no move reported in contract talks. According to Early Bid Rights’ Jeff Siegel, the Bucks are now $11.7 million away from the tax apron. They could free up another $5.7 million by releasing Brandon Jennings, Tyler Zeller, and Malcolm Brogdon from their non-guaranteed contracts. The first two are certainly candidates to be released. There’s little to no chance Brogdon is released.

While Lopez will fit nicely into the Bucks retooled roster on offense, his presence won’t help a defense that was below average last season. New head coach Mike Budenholzer will bring in a tried and true scheme, but the duo of Lopez and Ilyasova will be eye sores on the defensive end.

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Perhaps more importantly than the Bucks gain is the Lakers loss. By failing to re-sign Lopez, their options at starting center are JaVale McGee and Ivica Zubac. LeBron James might be on board with the offseason moves of “Magic” Johnson, but the man has to draw the line somewhere.