Former GM Kerr: Letting Lopez go would not be good
Jan 24, 2012, 11:03 PM | Updated: 11:42 pm
The Suns have some big decisions to make with Steve Nash
and Robin Lopez about their futures, but getting rid of
both may not be the best choices.
Rumors about Nash leaving have gone on for months and
involve different teams, but TNT analyst and former Suns
GM Steve Kerr said he’ll
be tough to trade. As for Lopez, the team and player
have until Wednesday to agree on a contract extension. If
not, he’ll become a restricted free agent after the
season.
Kerr, who was a guest on Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and
Gambo, said he thinks Lopez still has a nice career ahead
of him.
“I still think (Lopez) can be a very good player,” Kerr
said. “He looks much bouncier this year like he did a
couple years ago when he was so effective for us. He’s had
a couple good games and some good runs, but he’s
obliviously playing behind some people.”
Since coming to the Valley in 2008, Lopez suffered
multiple injuries; he’s been in and out of the Suns’
starting lineup.
Lopez has seen few minutes and is low in scoring because
of the Suns acquiring Marcin Gortat last year. With Gortat as the starting center, Lopez is averaging 15 minutes and five points per game, and has a .483 field goal percentage, his lowest in his professional career.
Even though he hasn’t been full-speed lately, Kerr said
finding another like him would not be simple.
“I think if he ends up elsewhere, I still think he’s going
to be good,” Kerr said. “It’s hard to find big guys,
especially mobile big guys. They’ve got to at least
consider keeping him around because guys like that are not
easy to find.”
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