"I Can't Wait for Opening Night"

A very different looking and sounding Brook Lopez spoke with reporters on Wednesday morning. Carefully deflecting trade talk, the Nets center made it clear he's always wanted Brooklyn and now "can't wait for Opening Night at Barclays Center."

"The Nets are the only place I want to be," said a serious Lopez, adding, "I want to be a Net for my entire career."

As for reports that he was the prime piece in a Nets' trade package for Dwight Howard, Lopez replied, "I read a lot of books and comic books and those don't mention Dwight Howard too much."

Lopez did say he doesn't know if he would have agreed to a sign-and-trade with Orlando if the Magic had agreed to a Howard deal .

Lopez, who has told people that he will not rush his recovery, was asked what he's been focusing on in the off-season."For the most part, I've just been working on getting healthy ... I don't want to miss any games this season. I want to be there for my teammates." He added he's not playing 5-on-5 yet but "probably could" and is expecting to be ready to go at the start of camp.

• Brook Lopez motivated by Howard trade talk - Roderick Boone - New York Newsday
• Jeremy Lin Is Gone, and So Is the Buzz in New York - Hunter Atkins - New York Times
  
• Lopez says Nets were always intended destination - Conor Orr - Star-Ledger
• With Howard rumors behind him, Lopez 'excited' to start season with Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post Nets Blog
  
• Lopez excited about Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
  
• Brook Lopez is a Net. For now - Chris Mannix - Sports Illustrated
  
• Brook Lopez happy with Nets - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Nets, Brook Lopez happy to still be together - AP
• NETS: Lopez, Now the Brooklyn Net He Envisioned - Ben Couch - Brooklyn Nets
• NETS VIDEO: Brook Lopez Presser (Highlights) - Brooklyn Nets
• NETS VIDEO: Brook Lopez Presser (Full) - Brooklyn Nets
  
• Nets' Brook Lopez Arrives in Brooklyn! (Video) - Pete Tenney - Brooklyn Fans
• At the center of it all: Lopez eager to begin Nets' Downtown resurrection - John Torenli - Brooklyn Daily Eagle
• Lopez Re-Introduced in Brooklyn - Josh Newman - Zags Blog
  
• Nets' Brook Lopez Eager To 'Render Those Trade Rumors Moot' - Evan Roberts & Joe Benigno - WFAN
• Brook Lopez didn’t sweat Dwight Howard trade rumors, because he was reading comics the whole time - Dan Devine - Ball Don't Lie