Book Lopez will miss the remainder of the 11-12 season ahead of his restricted free agency.
Lopez didn't miss a single game in his first three seasons, but played in only five this season.
“It was a collective effort,” Billy King said. “I talked to [agent] Arn Tellem in L.A. and we decided I didn’t want to make the decision for Brook because of him being a free agent,” King said. “But everybody thought it best for [him] not to risk anything the rest of this year.
“He understands that the future is more important. He’d like to play. But he knows there is a lot more basketball down the road,” said King.
“We’re headed in the right direction,” King said.