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BROOK LOPEZ SUFFERS BROKEN FOOT

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Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

For the fourth time in three years, Brook Lopez has suffered a serious foot injury, a league source confirms to NetsDaily. Once again, it's a broken foot.  That likely means he is done for the season.

The news was first reported by Gary Tanguay of Comcast Sports New England.

Shortly after Tanguay's tweet, a league source confirmed the news, without details, to NetsDaily. The Nets have yet to confirm the news. Lopez suffered the injury in Friday's night loss in Philadelphia. He played 44 minutes in the overtime game.

Two and a half hours later, the Nets issued a press release on the injury, declining to put timetable on Lopez's return until further consultations with medical staff.

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez has been diagnosed with a fractured fifth metatarsal of the right foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.  The injury occurred during last night's game against Philadelphia.  The Nets will issue a further update next week after consultation with their team physicians.

Lopez previously fractured the same bone during the 2011-12 season and underwent surgery following the 2012-13 season to replace a bent screw in the foot.

John Schuhmann tweeted out video of the play where Lopez apparently suffered the injury.  With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Lopez was fouled underneath, fell awkwardly to the floor and grabbed the right side of his right foot.

Meanwhile, Marc Stein reports the Nets may look to obtain a Disabled Player Exception for Lopez. A DPE can be used in a trade or free agency to acquire a replacement player.

Under the CBA, a team suffering the loss of a max level player like Lopez can get a DPE equal to the MLE and use it to acquire a player either through free agency or a trade. The NBA grants DPE's only after an independent medical review determines the player is done for the season.  But there are severe restrictions on the use of the DPE and with the Nets high payroll, each additional dollar spent would result in as many as $7 in luxury taxes.

Lopez played his first three years in the NBA without missing a quarter, but since then, he's had recurring and serious foot injuries, missing all but five games in 2011-12. Lopez suffered a hairline fracture when he first returned that season. Then last summer he had surgery on his foot to replace a broken screw, discovered during the post-season physicals. In each previous case, it's been Lopez's right foot that has suffered a break.

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