Nets assistant appears serious about wanting to keep Brook Lopez

The Brooklyn Nets' season came to an inglorious end at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night, but one unnamed Brooklyn assistant coach apparently didn't waste any time in lobbying potential free agent-to-be center Brook Lopez.

Lopez can opt out of the final year of his contract this summer. Given the Nets terrible salary cap situation (four words: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson) and the fact that they do not own a first-round pick outright until 2019, things do not look bright in the foreseeable future at Flatbush and Atlantic. 

Just this week, one rival general manager opined that Lopez could probably get anything he wanted from the Nets given their need for some sort of consistent contributor. 

Lopez was an All-Star in 2013, but missed 65 games last season with a serious foot injury. The 27-year-old has battled injury issues and regression concerns, and at one point this season was relegated to bench duty alongside Williams by head coach Lionel Hollins. 

Lopez, however, was effective in the Hawks series, averaging close to 20 points, nine rebounds and just over two blocks in six games.