Mavericks Eye 6-foot-8 Karim Lopez at No. 9 as Draft Options Narrow

Q: With top guards available, is picking Karim Lopez at No. 9 a genius move or a major blunder?

It would be a defensible swing, not a blunder, but only if Dallas is drafting for upside over immediate backcourt help. Lopez has a real lottery case. He is 6-foot-8, 225 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, has already played two years in the NBL against grown professionals, and produced across the board: roughly 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting about 50% from the field. Scouts value his strength, toughness, ball skills, defensive versatility and the possibility that his jumper improves. ESPN’s board has placed him around No. 11, and some evaluators think he could rise into the top eight. The risk is fit and opportunity cost. Dallas has been linked more heavily to guards such as Brayden Burries and Mikel Brown Jr., and there is a strong argument the Mavericks need more shot creation, shooting and long-term backcourt insurance. Lopez is not yet a reliable shooter, his burst is limited, and some analysts still see him as a reach at No. 9, especially in a draft widely viewed as deep at guard. So the answer depends on Dallas’ philosophy. If the Mavericks believe Lopez can become a two-way, multi-positional forward who complements Cooper Flagg and fits a switchable roster, the pick could look smart quickly. If they pass on a more polished guard and Lopez’s shot never comes around, it will look like they ignored a clearer roster need.

3 articles · Updated · Sport DFW · Jun 17

Yahoo Sports' latest mock draft links Dallas to Karim Lopez at No. 9, reviving a second round of speculation around the New Zealand Breakers forward.
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Mexican prospect is gaining traction because Dallas' preferred guard targets could be gone, while Lopez offers size, multi-position defense and secondary ballhandling.
Kevin O'Connor called Lopez the best basketball prospect Mexico has produced, citing his 7-foot-1 wingspan and pro experience that began after he left Mexico for Barcelona at 14.
Brayden Burries remains the more common Mavericks projection and Mikel Brown Jr. is also in the mix, but Lopez is being framed as a possible lottery steal if Dallas prioritizes upside over a true guard.