Jason Kidd and the Milwaukee Bucks are planning to beef up the center position and two names at the top of the list are Tyson Chandler and Brook Lopez.
Despite a somewhat rag-tag team in the 2014-15 NBA season, the Bucks managed to get into the NBA playoffs (41-41 record, finishing 6th) and things can only get better. And a glaring hole comes in the center slot, something that Chandler and Lopez could easily fit in perfectly.
Chandler stands to be a realistic choice for the Bucks, seeing that he has yet to give any indication of re-signing with the Dallas Mavericks. He just finished his contract with the Mavericks and took home $14, 596, 887 and is set to be an unrestricted free agent.
The Bucks can accommodate Chandler since the team does have at least $16 million in cap space after trading Ersan Ilyasova to the Detroit Pistons. That cap space can be bumped up should they end up waiving Caron Butler and Shawne Williams.
Seeing that the team wants Lopez too, the Bucks will most likely have the cap space to have them both. Lopez salary last season was $15, 719, 063. If he does not use the player opt out clause, he stands to earn $16,744, 219 with the Nets.
Hooking up Lopez is however easier said than done. The Nets have made it known that they intend to re-sign him though the final decision will still be up to Lopez who is expected to be a hot name once NBA Free Agency kicks off this July.
Lopez had been the subject of multiple trade rumors last February during the NBA trade deadline. However, the Nets have rescinded that plan and are now planning to keep the 7-footer.
Plagued with foot injuries, Lopez proved that when healthy that he is a force to reckon with. And as it stands now, the Nets are placing him at the top of the list alongside Thaddeus Young as they rebuild with a younger crew moving forward.
That doesn’t discount the possibility of Lopez listening to other teams though since many have made known their intentions of pitching to the 27-year-old selected 10th overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Nets.
As far as the Bucks are concerned, there could be a chance to land both though it will not be easy. Kidd has close ties with Chandler and Lopez and that could be decisive.
Kidd played with Chandler in Dallas and New York while he was able to handle Lopez when he was still the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets.
Should the Bucks succeed in luring Chandler and Lopez, their entry will be immense. Such could foresee a better finish in the 2015-16 NBA season especially with a young crew led no less by the 2014 second overall pick Jabari Parker.
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