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Report: Brook Lopez declines player option with Nets, becomes unrestricted free agent

Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez

AP

Brook Lopez had a player option on his contract with the Nets to remain with the team on a deal that would have paid him in excess of $16.7 million for next season.

“Had” is the operative word, because Lopez has declined the final year of his deal to become an unrestricted free agent.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

After Brook Lopez opted out of contract today, the Nets remain a strong frontrunner to re-sign him, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

Lopez has dealt with significant injuries in two of his last four seasons, so declining a one-year deal for a longer, more lucrative one that provides some long-term financial security makes plenty of sense.

Should he be interested in pursuing other opportunities, plenty of teams would come calling. When healthy, Lopez is a more-than-solid big man option, especially offensively. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots in 29.2 minutes per game in Brooklyn last season.