Big free man Robin Lopez is unlikely to betray his brother, Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez, in order to sign with the Boston Celtics as a last-second buyout addition according to MassLive’s Brian Robb.
“Do the Celtics want information on their main competitor in the East? That would probably be the only reason to bring in the center, although it seems unlikely that he would betray his brother that way,” Robb wrote in an article highlighting eight potential free agents. agent options with the final place of C.
Robin signed with the Bucks for his second stint in July 2023, but was dealt to the Sacramento Kings at the 2024 trade deadline. He still showed up to a game to support his brother and his former team against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 8.
While Lopez would be a fun addition to a locker room that’s just as serious as it is playful, it seems like his connection to his own brother, if not necessarily the Bucks, would keep him from joining the Celtics.
Lopez would be a luxury for the Cs, who don’t need a big man like they did before the trade deadline given the acquisition of Xavier Tillman. The former Memphis Grizzlies great’s arrival not only rules out a signing like Lopez, but also likely keeps Neemias Queta on a two-way contract for the rest of the season.
“At this point, I don’t like Queta’s chances of being converted to a standard deal unless there is some sort of frontcourt injury,” Robb wrote. “The acquisition of Xavier Tillman gives Boston additional playing depth alongside Luke Kornet and Al Horford on the Boston bench, so it’s hard to imagine the team cutting another player to add what would be a fifth-string center if this group is healthy. Keeping Queta on a two-way deal now also gives the Celtics more potential flexibility to sign him this offseason with an extra year on his contract (for a standard contract).
Perhaps in the future, Lopez could join the C’s as a veteran ring chaser in the twilight of his career. With Tillman alongside him, neither Lopez nor a young player like Queta should be added to Boston’s frontcourt this season.
