Brook Lopez, Nets Continue Negotiations On Maximum Contract, According To Report

The Brooklyn Nets and center Brook Lopez continue negotiations on the terms of what essentially would amount to a maximum contract extension, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. As of now, the two sides have agreed to fully guarantee the first four years for $58 million. The hold-up remains the fifth year.

The Nets' urgency for resolving the Lopez situation has a lot to do with preserving the chance at trading for Dwight Howard. If the Nets sign Lopez to a contract, they have only 48 hours to deal it in a sign-and-trade if they so choose. Otherwise, they must wait until December 15 to trade Lopez again. Lopez would be the centerpiece of the Nets' trade package for Howard.

The urgency for all of this increased because Lopez has a maximum contract offer on the table from another team, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times.

Lopez, a restricted free agent, is weighing a maximum-salary offer sheet from a rival team, according to a person with knowledge of the proposed deal. If Lopez were to sign the offer sheet, it would eliminate him as a trading chip and kill the Nets’ chances of landing Howard this summer.

It was not immediately known which team was preparing the offer sheet, but three teams have the cap room to do so: the Charlotte Bobcats, the Dallas Mavericks and the Portland Trail Blazers.

If Lopez signs that offer sheet with another team, the Nets would have three days to match it, but they cannot match it and then trade Lopez for Howard. That's why the Nets are moving quickly to resolve Lopez's status while also engaging with the Magic on trade scenarios for Howard.

You can track all the Dwight Howard trade drama by visiting this StoryStream. For more on the Nets and Magic, check out NetsDaily and Orlando Pinstriped Post. The latest updates on all NBA news and rumors are at SB Nation's dedicated NBA hub.