Each NBA team’s greatest free agent signing in franchise history

Milwaukee Bucks: Brook Lopez, Center (2018-present)

It’s not a coincidence that the Milwaukee Bucks’ rise towards perennial contender status coincided with the arrival of Brook Lopez in the summer of 2018. He’s not their MVP or even an All-Star caliber player. But Milwaukee’s two-way dominance in recent years is made possible thanks largely to the unique value he brings to both ends of the court.

A traditional back-to-the-basket center for most of his career, Lopez began stepping out beyond the arc two years before he came to Milwaukee. That added touch worked wonders widening lanes for Giannis Anetokounmpo to barrel through. But the relationship was a two-way street as the attention the Greek Freak drew freed Lopez up to knock down 36.5 percent of 6.3 3-point attempts per game in his inaugural season with the Bucks, both career-high marks.

The Bucks are famous for the drop coverage they deploy to protect the paint at all costs. That scheme is made largely possible because Lopez is the interior gatekeeper. He averaged 2.3 blocks per game during his first two years in Milwaukee and altered plenty more en route to a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team in 2020.

Stretch bigs are popping up with more frequency than ever but only so many are elite at what they do on the other end of the floor. Lopez is one of the rarities who can do both, and the crazy part about just how much that’s meant to the Bucks is how easily so many other teams could’ve been the benefactors.

Lopez signed a measly one-year, $3.3 million contract as a free agent in 2018 before inking a long-term deal the following summer. He could’ve wound up anywhere in the league, but the Bucks scooped him up and he’s been a crucial part of their championship hopes ever since.