Brook Lopez to Re-Sign with Nets: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction

The Brooklyn Nets had long been considered "strong frontrunners" to re-sign center Brook Lopez after he declined a $16.7 million player option for next season, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, and the team made its commitment to the big man on July 1. 

According to Wojnarowski, Lopez and the Nets agreed to a deal that will pay him $60 million over three years. The second year of Lopez's deal will be a player option, per Wojnarowski, which will afford the big man options should he opt to chase another rich payday next summer thanks to an impending cap spike brought on by the league's new television deal. 

Furthermore, Wojnarowski noted the deal "includes some protections for the Nets should a recurrence of Lopez’s past foot issues sideline him again."

The team announced the deal on July 9.

Drafted by the Nets at No. 10 overall in the 2008 NBA draft, Lopez has been one of the league's most dominant offensive centers over the past seven seasons—when healthy. 

Foot and ankle injuries have plagued Lopez to a fairly significant degree, limiting him to five games during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season and 17 games during the 2013-14 campaign. 

However, when Lopez has been fully operational, his post moves and mid-range jump shot have proved to be a lethal combination. In 72 appearances last season, Lopez averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 51.3 percent from the field.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, the full list of players to average better than 17 points, seven boards and 1.5 blocks while drilling at least 50 percent of their shots last year is confined to Lopez and the recently extended Anthony Davis. 

Brooklyn is now free to address other positional needs with the centerpiece of its frontcourt locked up.