PHOENIX -- With a Wednesday deadline looming, Phoenix Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby said Tuesday night the team would not offer fourth-year center Robin Lopez a contract extension, making him a restricted free agent at season's end.
"We reached out to (Lopez's agent) Arn Tellem and let him know that we were willing to engage in discussions to see if there was any common ground that might make sense," Babby said. "Their preference was to wait and see how things unfolded. We're perfectly fine with that.
"We just wanted to make sure we made the appropriate overture. Everything was completely amicable."
Babby had reached out to Lopez's agent Arn Tellem to gauge what common ground might exist between the two sides, and prior to Tuesday's home game Babby met with Lopez to assure him the deadline had not been ignored.
"I wanted him hear directly from me about the process," Babby said. "He was fine. More than fine actually. I think he appreciated that we reached out."
Lopez had been communicating with Tellem about the possibility of an extension, but said he has remained primarily focused on basketball. Barring some surprise change of heart Wednesday, it seems Lopez will test the free agent market this summer, though the Suns will have rights to match any offer he might receive.
In October 2010, the Suns didn't hesitate to pick up Lopez's option for the 2011-2012 season. At the time, Lopez was coming off a stellar sophomore season that saw him double his scoring and rebounding averages to 8.4 and 4.8 per game, respectively. He also played a key role in the Suns' run to the Western Conference Finals.
Lopez regressed last season, averaging 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while battling multiple injuries. Feeling healthy once again after the lockout-extended offseason, Lopez got off to a hot start this year with 21 points in the Suns' season opener but scored the same amount over the next five games combined.
Suns coach Alvin Gentry said Lopez has been limited by Marcin Gortat's efficiency this season rather than any further regression, and Babby said the fact that Lopez's contract not being extended should not be interpreted as referendum on the organization's feelings about his future.
"I wouldn't read anymore into it than there's a deadline and the deadline's going to pass," Babby said. "And we've agreed to put this off to another day."
Lopez is currently averaging 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in just under 15 minutes per game. He was ejected in the second quarter of Tuesday's game after four minutes of play, having appeared to say something to an official.
