Brook Lopez could only play five games this season, as he has been dealing with tough foot injuries. The 24-year-old may have been able to play the final ten games of the season for the New Jersey Nets, but they have decided shut him down for the year to be on the safe side.
"He is healing nicely but with 10 games to go and him being a free agent and looking for the future, we'll sit him down for the rest of this year," says Nets general manager, Billy King.
"It was a collective effort," King said. "I talked to Arn Tellem in L.A. and we decided I didn't want to make the decision for Brook because with him being a free agent. But everybody thought it best for the young center not to risk anything the rest of this year."
Lopez was avearaging 19 points and four rebounds per game in five games this season. The three-year-pro will be a free agent this summer. Before this injury-filled season, Lopez did not miss a regular-season game. He was not available for comment, but likes how the Nets have been built throughout the year with guys like Deron Williams, Gerald Green, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Humphries.
"I would not put numbers or anything, but I think we're headed in the right direction," King said.
That's the thing I like. Gerald Wallace has given us the versatility, where he can guard a point guard one night and a power forward the next, can handle the ball. Gerald Green has been a nice addition to the bench. When you don't have Brook Lopez, when you don't have Jordan Farmar, some of your key pieces and add this to the mix, and you're not shorthanded, then your bench becomes better. That's where you can look at the positives."
