Report: If Steven Adams leaves in free agency, Rockets eyeing Brook Lopez as backup plan
When the Houston Rockets signed Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks in 2023 free agency, they also pursued Bucks center Brook Lopez.
But in the final hours, Lopez spurned Houston to stay in Milwaukee.
Two years later, however, the interest from a basketball standpoint is still there. If backup center Steven Adams leaves the Rockets this offseason, The Athletic's Kelly Iko reports that Houston could again pursue Lopez in free agency:
If Adams leaves, team sources said the Rockets could reignite their interest in Brook Lopez. The 37-year-old, who averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game (while) shooting 37% from 3 in Milwaukee last season, was previously a target for Houston. He would theoretically be a fit, given his two-way production and health (played 237 games over the last three seasons).
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Lopez will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, with negotiations open to all teams on June 30.
To be clear, Houston's priority will be Adams, who is several years younger (at 31) and is coming off an extremely strong run in the 2025 NBA playoffs. But as an unrestricted free agent, he will have other options — and the Rockets can't offer a starting role, given the presence of All-Star incumbent Alperen Sengun.
Interestingly enough, one of the reasons Lopez stayed with the Bucks two years ago was presumably the fact that Milwaukee appeared much closer to title contention. But the aging Bucks are reeling and dealing with a potential trade request from franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo, while the young and improving Rockets are coming off a 52-30 season with the NBA's fourth-best record.
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The landscape has changed, and that might make the Rockets more of a draw to Lopez, this time around. However, Adams remains Houston's preference.
Both Adams and Lopez could potentially play alongside Sengun in double big lineups, which the Rockets increasingly used as the 2024-25 season progressed. The ability of Lopez to also hit 3-pointers could mitigate some of the floor spacing concerns with those units, though Adams is clearly the superior rebounder.
More: As free agency looms, Rockets hopeful of reunion with Steven Adams
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Report: If Steven Adams leaves, Rockets eye Brook Lopez as backup plan
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