Bucks have a clear plan for Brook Lopez

The Milwaukee Bucks need a bounce-back year. They have been knocked out of the first round of the playoffs for the past two seasons. The Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo tandem must capitalize on its potential if the franchise is to make it back into the championship mix.

Of course, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton will have their part to play. Lopez's future with the franchise has been a consistent talking point throughout the summer. The veteran big man looked a step slow last season, leading to fears that age has finally begun sapping him of his elite rim protection.

"I typically don’t talk about any of this stuff with the media, but I will say, because Brook is so core to who we are, we have zero intentions of trading Brook,” Bucks GM Jon Horst told The Athletic's Eric Nehm in an exclusive interview. "... Brook has been and will continue to be core to who we are.”

Lopez is in the final year of his two-year $48 million deal. He will earn $23 million this season before hitting unrestricted free agency in the summer. When at his best, his performances for the Bucks are invaluable. His ability to space the floor ensures Giannis and Lillard have room to attack the lanes and get behind the point-of-attack defense on the perimeter.

Last season, Lopez averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three-point range. Milwaukee doesn't need much more from him on the offensive end. However, the Bucks need him to rediscover the defensive dominance that positioned him among the top centers in the league over the past few years.

Given Milwaukee's precarious cap situation and its lack of tradable assets, sticking with Lopez is a logical decision. He's still one of the best veteran bigs in the NBA. His contract expires next season, but he could re-sign on a team-friendly deal if he chooses to extend his career.

Milwaukee is backing its championship-winning big man. Now, it's on Lopez to repay that trust.