Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young will be opting out of their contracts but both are expected to stay put in Brooklyn.
Lopez would have had a guaranteed pay of $16.7 million but ever since the Nets figured his importance, the 7-footer is expected to get a higher payday once NBA Free Agency kicks off this July 1.
Young on the other hand will be opting out of his contract which would have guaranteed him $10.2 million next season. Word out is that Young could be looking at a possible four-year deal estimated to be worth around $48 million-plus.
The decision of both players doesn't come as a surprise and the Nets were expecting them to opt out of their contracts.
The sudden change of heart of the Nets is a far cry from their intent months back leading the NBA trade deadline last February. It will be recalled that Lopez was criticized for his poor play which led to him coming off the bench.
Lopez was apparently struggling from a foot injury which had been plaguing him for some time now but once healthy, the 27-year-old 10th overall draft pick by the Nets in 2008 has been showing what he can do down the post.
In fact, Lopez numbers improved after the NBA All Star Break, seeing him put up 19.2 points per game and 9.2 rebounds.
Prior to that turnaround, Lopez was being tied up with several trade talks until the Nets change their mind and decided to keep Lopez.
Though it has been reported that Lopez is likely to re-sign with the Nets, it remains to be seen if Lopez would even listen to other teams who may court him.
One team said to be seriously considering him are the Milwaukee Bucks where his former coach, Jason Kidd, is calling the shots right now.
