Brook Lopez Exercises Player Option; Becomes Free Agent

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Brooklyn Nets Center Brook Lopez will decline his player option on his contract and become a Free Agent.

After Brook Lopez opted out of contract today, the Nets remain a strong frontrunner to re-sign him, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 26, 2015

Lopez, 27, still had just shy of $17 million left on the final year of his contract with the Nets but will test his market value this off-season.  The former All-Star left a lot of money on the table.  An intriguing move, especially since his contract would have be up the same year the new salary cap will take into affect.

As Wojnarowski said, the Nets and Lopez may reunite again, but for now, the Nets will need to have a back-up plan.

Lopez averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 44 games last season for the Nets.