Bucks to deal veteran center to Kings

The Bucks are dealing little-used big man Robin Lopez to the Kings for cash considerations, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. He’s expected to be waived by Sacramento and become a free agent.

The cost-cutting move by Milwaukee will open up a roster spot and save it $8.6M in luxury tax penalties. This trade deadline is the last time teams in the second tax apron are allowed to send out cash in trades, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes.

Lopez was on a veteran’s minimum salary deal, so Sacramento didn’t have to match a salary or use a traded player exception to pull off the deal. The Kings had an open roster spot to make the trade.

Lopez, 35, has appeared in 16 this season, including two starts, but averaged just 4.1 minutes in those appearances.