"Brook Lopez would have preferred to be involved in any discussions that led to the Nets' decision not to extend him.

"It does include me," Lopez said with a shrug after the Nets made official yesterday what they had indicated for some time — they did not extend the fourth-season center while also not picking up the third year option on Damion James, moves intended to keep as much cap space as possible for a free agent run at Dwight Howard.

"I understand it I suppose from a business standpoint," Lopez said before the Nets' 97-90 overtime victory over the 76ers last night. "But yeah, I think it's disappointing because I'd like to be here.""