BROOK WON'T BREAK
Lopez willing to endure losing to see what develops
NEW ORLEANS — The Nets take the NBA’s worst record and longest losing skid into Friday’s game versus the Pelicans. And if New Orleans is disappointing considering the presence of star center Anthony Davis, one runs out of adjectives describing the Nets.
Their 11-game losing skid, currently the league’s longest, is their worst since moving to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season. Their 8-33 mark is dead-last in the league as they tip off the second half of their season. Brook Lopez has had a lot of coaches, heard a lot of speeches and lost a lot of games since the Nets drafted him in 2008. It makes one wonder just how long this marriage can last, and how both sides make it work.
“I enjoy what I do. You have to in order to be in the same situation for so long,’’ said Lopez. “I enjoy coming in and seeing the guys every day, seeing this group of people, I really want to see something special built here.”
That’s the plan of general manager Sean Marks and coach Kenny Atkinson. But the 28-year-old Lopez has seen a number of grand rebuilds in his day, with Atkinson the eighth coach he’s played for, not counting Tom Barrise’s twogame cameo.
“It’s amazing,’’ Atkinson said. “[But] we communicate. We spent a lot of time with Brook this summer. Him being around and understanding what we’re trying to do — and I’ll include Sean in that — and constantly communicating where we’re going, what we’re trying to do, what our program is, he sees the stuff around it.
“But I do understand [how tough it is]. Man, this guy has been around a lot of coaches, a lot of different programs and everybody has a different theory on how to do it. I’ve been really just super-impressed how positive [he is].”
The Nets clearly value Lopez, who has remade his game to the modern NBA by adding 3-point range. And sources say despite their dire situation — without control of their own first-round pick until 2019 — they’re not actively shopping him.
But Marks is too shrewd not to do his due diligence, with a league source saying their asking price would be a pair of firstround picks.
“I don’t read that stuff, so I don’t hear about it. Every now and then I hear something maybe from [the media], but personally I really don’t pay attention to that stuff. So I haven’t heard anything,’’ said Lopez, whose name pops up in rumors seemingly every trade deadline. “I couldn’t tell you [why]. I don’t know. Go figure. I was never this popular in high school, so I couldn’t explain it.”
Even though all first-round picks are not created equal, for a player making $21.2 million this season and $22.6 million next, that’s not a small return. A league source confirmed the Nets will keep forward Quincy Acy on another 10-day contract. “They enjoy what I’m bringing to the table on and off the court, I’m just coming in here every day getting my work in, being positive. Whenever I do get my minutes, I work hard,’’ said Acy, 26. “I’m just coming in, getting my work in because I’m still a part of the Brooklyn Nets, and I’m going to do everything I can to try and make this team.”
Acy averaged 6.3 points, two rebounds and .571 shooting in just 7.5 minutes-per-game during his first 10-day deal. Since Brooklyn can’t offer Acy a third 10-day contract, he’ll have five more games — until Jan. 29 — to earn a deal through the end of the season or go back to the D-League Texas Legends.
“He’s done a pretty good job, pretty pleased with his play. I think he’s taken advantage of the small opportunity he’s gotten,’’ Atkinson said.
“[I’ve liked] his energy, toughness, he’s got good athleticism about him, he’s got aggressiveness about him. Surprised at his shooting. I think he’s an improved shooter, from what I remember. Just watching him in practice shoot the ball, he’s more skilled than I thought.”