NETS NOTES

OK, so maybe he hasn’t cherished it that much. Still, it’s a nice accomplishment for a guy who nearly was traded to Orlando about four times for Dwight Howard, to Oklahoma City for Reggie Jackson and heavens knows how many other places. Always, he surfaced in trade rumors.

“Haven’t heard anything in like a whole day and a half,” Lopez joked.

Lopez, who would tie Chris Morris (510 games) for fourth place on the team’s career games list if he faces the Magic in Orlando Friday, still feels like a rookie. But he acts like a leader, which coach Kenny Atkinson appreciates.

“I love the guy’s leadership. We can be down 15 and he comes to every timeout with something positive to say, something to help the young guys,” Atkinson said. “I just love his spirit. I love the guy’s attitude.” Jeremy Lin, who missed 17 games with a hamstring injury, played one, then sat Wednesday with lower back stiffness, practiced Thursday. He and Atkinson said his availability for Orlando depends how he feels Friday, but he is officially listed as questionable.

The Rockets, who matched the Nets’ four-year offer sheet, potentially worth $37 million, for Donatas Motiejunas, renounced their rights to the 7-foot Lithuanian forward Thursday, making him an unrestricted free agent. But the Nets are out of luck — they must wait one year from the date of the recent offer sheet before they can sign him, by league rules.