Ranking the Roster 2018: Bye Bye, Brook

This contest wasn’t particularly close, but gives a hint about what might be a contentious debate about the identity of the next least valuable member of the Milwaukee Bucks. But for now, with 52% of the vote, the honor of fifth place goes to Brook Lopez. Huzzah!

Long gone are the days of 20+ points and 10+ rebounds for Lopez; the NBA has since evolved beyond his core skillset since being drafted 10th overall by the New Jersey Nets back in 2008. Fortunately, Lopez has been able to direct his own evolution to the point of staying relevant, not a common feat for players who clock in at 7’0” and 275(!) pounds.

In raw terms, it’s almost easy to think that Lopez’s status as a mid-July pickup is deserved. His per-game points, field goal attempts, field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks are all at (or near) career lows. He’s 30 years old and (relative to his NBA peers) moves like he’s 50. And at the biannual exception ($3.4 million), maybe he’s even overpaid!

But raw terms are nearly never paint an accurate picture, and Brew Hoop readers know that Lopez’s impact will far exceed his salary slot, making him a hugely valuable short-term solution at center. He has struggled with injuries in years past, but has become a reliable player. He learned how to shoot the three, making him a useful player. His rebounding has always been poor, but his team’s rebounding has always been very good, making him a sneaky good player. There’s a lot to like here from Lopez, and the question may become how much they miss him after his super-cheap contract is up.

Let’s go back to the impending debate I mentioned earlier. It’s widely assumed that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton will take the top two spots in these rankings. That means that spots three and four are to be decided between Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon. How the different aspects will be compared is a fascinating discussion waiting to happen. Is Brogdon’s second round pick contract enough to make him more valuable than Bledsoe’s expiring 8-figure deal? Or is Bledsoe’s elite athleticism preferable to Brogdon’s slow-but-steady approach to point guarding? Decide!

2018 Brew Hoop Roster Ranking

1. ______________
2. ______________
3. ______________
4. ______________
5. Brook Lopez
6. Ersan Ilyasova
7. Thon Maker
8. Donte DiVincenzo
9. Tony Snell
10. Sterling Brown
11. Pat Connaughton
12. Matthew Dellavedova
13. John Henson
14. Christian Wood
15. Tyler Zeller
16. Shabazz Muhammad
17. D.J. Wilson