10 players to watch for on buyout market after 2019 NBA Trade Deadline
4. Robin Lopez
In the age of bigs who play more like guards, there is still a place for a bruising seven-footer who can rebound the ball, set screens and do all the little bits of dirty work that wind up making a large impact over the course of a game.
Robin Lopez has never been a dominant inside presence who can command double-teams and give teams 20 points and 10 rebounds on a consistent basis. He’s just someone who won’t rock the boat in any negative way, a guy who will play hard and smart no matter the number of minutes he’s given.
John Paxson said things can change but has no plans to buy out Robin Lopez. Said the talk before the trade deadline hurt market for Lopez.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 7, 2019
Currently at odds with his current team, the Chicago Bulls, Lopez will likely hit the buyout market as the most sought-after big for his ability to bang down low in the post against the elite talent the center position has to offer, while freeing up shooters and ball-handlers with nerve-damaging screens.
There are quite a few teams, even the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors, who view RoLo as a potential impact player for the defensive prowess he can bring to the table. Having spent most of his prime years on lottery-bound teams, it would be interesting to see the influence his underappreciated game could make on one gunning for something greater than ping-pong balls.