Brook Lopez Next Team Odds: Bucks Center is Most Coveted Big Man

Brook Lopez is the ideal center in today’s NBA. The former All-Star turned from a plodding low-post scorer into a shot-blocking 3-point threat. He was critical in Milwaukee’s championship run and even at 35, registered one of his best seasons in 2022-23. Teams are lined up inquiring about the unrestricted free agent. Brook Lopez’s next team odds are a mixture of teams should he choose to leave Milwaukee.

Lopez’s Market: Teams Will Pay for “Splash Mountain”

Lopez made just $13.9 million last season. This is a fantastic bargain for the “Splash Mountain”, which is a playoff Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s nickname, “Splash Brothers”. He had arguably his best season with NBA stats of 15.9 points on 37.4% 3-point shooting (53.1% field goal) while blocking 2.5 shots per game.

It earned Lopez Defensive Player of the Year nods and a selection to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Most importantly, Lopez has stayed healthy for most of his career. As such, Lopez could demand a lot for his next contract and some teams are going to pony up the cash for him.

Brook Lopez’s next team odds currently favor Houston (+150) and Portland (+250) as his likeliest destinations outside Milwaukee. These teams are interesting as they are both coming off losing seasons and possess two of the top four picks in the NBA Draft. Both also have the space to offer him a large deal.

Houston has more space so the team may offer Lopez a bigger deal. But Portland is more desperate to contend with Damian Lillard.

The Rockets have a new coach in Ime Udoka and plenty of promising young players. With the fourth overall pick, Houston could make a leap this season and Lopez will be one of the veterans guiding the team.

Portland could trade the third overall pick to land another star. This team could feature Lillard, Lopez, and another All-Star. That could be enough to make a run at the NBA schedule and return to the playoffs.

Either way, the big man will make an immediate impact on whichever team he plays for.

Long Range: Unlikely Teams Who Could Poach Lopez

Several other contenders could use an All-NBA Defensive center with long-range shooting. At 12-1, the Los Angeles Lakers are an intriguing destination. The franchise already had Lopez in 2017-18 and could use him again to stabilize its center position next to Anthony Davis.

The Lakers have around $30 million in cap room, though a good chunk of that could go to paying guard Austin Reaves. The team could still wheel and deal and find a way to fit in Lopez and his $20 million+ annual salary.

Another potential destination is Toronto. The Raptors are 10-1 per Brook Lopez’s next team odds. But with Jakob Poeltl becoming an unrestricted free agent, the Raptors could pivot and sign Lopez in his place. Toronto will have to move several contracts on its team to accommodate Lopez. But Bobby Webster should be up to the task.

And of course, there is Dallas. The Mavericks have needed to upgrade its ‘C’ position for over a decade. But with reports of the team re-signing Kyrie Irving, adding Lopez will prove tricky. Dallas will need to move several players, which will the team have even less depth. That’s not ideal. Still, Dallas is 9-1 on the sportsbook.

Lopez Should Return to Milwaukee

In all likelihood, Lopez could just re-sign with Milwaukee and “run it back.” The Bucks may have been upset by the Heat in the first round, but this team still has enough to go for another title run. Khris Middleton has a $40 million player option, which he could take while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday are still locked in.

New coach Adrian Griffin could reignite the Bucks as a team. A coaching change could directly lead to a championship. The 2016 Cavaliers, 2019 Raptors, and 2020 Lakers all won titles in the same season they appointed new coaches. But to do so, Milwaukee needs to secure its stalwart in the middle.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• LeBron James Next Team Odds: The Best Fits for the Aged “King”
• Top NBA Draft Prospects: Could French Star Join Wembanyama Inside Top 10?
• End of an Era? Warriors’ Draymond Green Free Agent?
• Trae Young Next Team Odds: Lakers the Favored Destination
• Kyrie Irving Next Team Odds: Will Guard Stay With Mavericks?