Brook Lopez is a championship-experienced center who can stretch the floor and defend. While he is 37 years old, Lopez played 80 games and averaged 13 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Teams looking to get Brook Lopez in free agency will need at least $10 million. He earned $23 million last season, but he will likely take a significant pay cut.
Brook Lopez to Enter Free Agency, Which Teams Can Sign Him
Brook Lopez will be 37 years old entering this summer’s free agency, and will likely get a significant pay cut compared to his previous salary. He earned $23 million for the 2024-25 season. However, it is highly unlikely that a team will pay that type of money to get an aging center. Brook might be looking at the non-tax mid-level exception, which will be around $14 million. The good news for the former perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate is that several teams will have that at their disposal. Will they use it fully to get Lopez? Let’s take a look at some potential fits, and most importantly, the ability to sign him in free agency.
Brook Lopez is likely to leave the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, per @HPbasketball
“That said, I’m not expecting the roster to look the way it does now. The team is likely to retain Kevin Porter Jr.² and most everyone I’ve spoken to assume Brook Lopez is gone. Lopez might be… pic.twitter.com/S82uVkScFt
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 9, 2025
For some clarity, the luxury tax for next season is projected at $187 million, with the first apron at $195 million and the second at $207.8 million. Teams over the aprons cannot take back more salary than they send.
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets might need to add some veteran championship experience to their roster. They will surely sniff if they can get Lopez on a cheap deal. If they fail to re-sign Steven Adams at a reasonable price, they might look at cheap alternatives to back up Alperen Sengun. Right now, their projected payroll for next season is $190 million, meaning they are below the first apron, but above the tax level. They can only use the tax mid-level, at around $5 million. If they somehow get below the tax, they can offer the non-tax option. Adams earned $12 million last year, but will he look for a last contract from a team with more cap space?
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers will be one of the teams looking to add a center to their roster for next season. While Lopez doesn’t fit their need for an athletic partner for Luka Doncic, he is still a serviceable big, more so than their current options. The Lakers’ payroll right now is at $191 million, and they are in the same situation as Houston. LA might also try to exercise a sign-and-trade, but they do not have many tradeable assets. First, they have to wait and see what Dorian Finney-Smith and LeBron James do with their player option.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks might be one of the more interesting teams this offseason. They can take two different directions, and depending on which one they take, they might be a good landing spot for Lopez. If they choose to retool and try to contend next season in the weak Eastern Conference, Brook is a good fit. They will likely lose Clint Capela in free agency, leaving them only with one center in Onyeka Okongwu. With only $146 million tied up in salary right now, the Hawks can use their cap space to sign Lopez.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are another team to watch. Something has to change in Memphis after the team fired Taylor Jenkins with several games to play. They lost in the first round to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies will have other priorities in the summer like re-signing Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr. But once they finish with that, landing an experienced big like Lopez is a luxury they can afford. They do have cap space, but once they re-sign Aldama and Jackson, they are looking maybe at the non-tax mid-level exception.
Golden State Warriors
We finish off our list of teams that might try to get Brook Lopez in free agency with the Golden State Warriors. He is the perfect player for their system, a big who can shoot and defend. There are rumors that the Warriors are looking to trade for Nikola Vucevic. If that trade fails to materialize, Lopez is a great alternative.
Right now, GSW has $170 million in payroll, without re-signing Jonathan Kuminga to a longer deal and letting Kevon Looney walk in free agency. The Warriors have a two-year window in which Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler are under contract. Getting a center with championship experience who can shoot and defend will definitely help them make another run.
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