Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez. (Photo : Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez had become the subject of recent NBA trade rumors after he suffered a foot injury during the team's 94-86 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 7. It was the same right foot that bothered Lopez's career and had gone under the knife multiple times since the 2011-2012 season.
Fortunately, the latest injury appears to be mild as "X-rays were negative" and the 2013 All-Star "will not require further testing on his foot", as reported by ESPN.
However, rumors are abuzz that the Nets may finally trade the hulking 7-footer before next year's deadline as concerns about his nagging injury are rising within the organization.
The International Business Times mentioned three Brooklyn players who could be dealt in midseason and Lopez was one of them along with Joe Johnson and Thaddeus Young.
The article said that although Lopez is considered as one of the best centers in the NBA today and is a bargain at $20 million per year considering his effect on the floor and impending rise in salary cap in the next two years, the Nets' "biggest issue with Lopez is his health".
His nagging foot problems have kept him sidelined in 2011-2012 for 77 games then it made him miss another 65 games in 2013-2014.
Last season was bright for the former Stanford Cardinal in terms of his availability as he was able to play in 72 games, averaging 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in barely 30 minutes of action per night.
Bleacher Report noted that the same right foot that gave the team a scare two weeks ago "already had three surgeries" and thus "the aggravation to it was concerning".
Seeing Lopez hurt it again may really push Brooklyn officials to put him on the block.
