Retaining Brook Lopez should be Brooklyn's first priority

Re-signing center Brook Lopez should be Brooklyn’s first priority this offseason.

In the final 30 games of the 2014-15 season, the Nets won 17 games, propelling Brooklyn into the playoffs for the third straight season. This stretch was made possible by the exemplary play of Lopez. Throughout the season, coach Lionel Hollins shifted Lopez’s role between starter and sixth man. As a starter in 44 games, Lopez averaged 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 31.9 minutes. As a reserve in 28 games, Lopez averaged 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 24.9 minutes. It wasn’t until after the All-Star break that Lopez’s game really started picking up. After the trade deadline in mid-February, Lopez’s numbers soared to 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. During the final stretch of the season, Lopez was named “Player of the Week” twice. In fact, Lopez was the only player this season to receive the honor for two weeks straight.

Brook Lopez recorded his best game this season against the Toronto Raptors on April 3rd, where we scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in Brooklyn’s 114-109 victory over the Raptors.

But, Lopez’s excellent play did not end in the regular season. In the first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, he averaged an impressive 19.8 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 39 minutes per game.

This season, Lopez added a very effective and accurate free throw line floater to his game. He was able to make this shot a consistent and effective part of his game, especially in pick-and-roll situations.

I think that Brook Lopez lived up to his max contract of $15,719,000 because of his well-rounded offensive attack and improving defense presence. He improved his rebounding numbers and has shown more energy in the second half of the season, which elevated his game to new heights. Lopez was undoubtedly Brooklyn’s best player and it should be the Nets’ number one priority this offseason to re-sign him.