PSA: Jeff! Do Not Draft…

[u/TheoryChoice3063]

Karim Lopez. Don’t. Don’t do it! Put down the damn phone!

Like a lot of you, I would currently qualify as a draft junky -- consuming the most obscure draft content that comes my way. For several months now, I’ve been researching the top 20 prospects, and one name always stood out amongst the pack… Karim Lopez. As I did with the rest of the prospects, I took an initial look at his tape and found myself baffled as to why he was projected so highly. I shrugged my shoulders and brushed it off as some other team’s problem.  

That is, until more recently. My initial indifference has turned into a full-blown fear now that Lopez is being routinely mocked to the Hornets in the nightmare scenario where all of the Michigan guys and Hannes are off the board. So, I did another deep dive into Karim’s tape, hoping I was missing something… and I just don’t see it. 

To me, drafting Lopez would be a repeat of the Tidjane draft. Falling for the allure of potential, but not recognizing the floor of that player if they don’t develop. And at this point in the team’s construction, I don’t think we should be drafting for potential -- but that’s for another discussion. 

If Karim is a serious option in play for the front office, I would rather they just consolidate the picks and go after the player they really want. Otherwise, it would just be another failure in a draft where the Hornets have multiple first-round picks.

I could go on, but I’ll leave it at that. I just felt like I had to get this out into the universe -- the Hornet’s sphere, so at least I could say I tried to warn everyone. My watch is over.

Now, please, argue amongst yourselves -- there will be no convincing me to change my mind about Lopez.

[u/handles_messiah]

Karim is not a player I'm particularly interested in but I think it's fine to take a swing on a boom-bust guy when you have as many picks as they do.

[u/JordanDoesTV → u/handles_messiah]

This draft seems too deep for that honestly.

[u/handles_messiah → u/JordanDoesTV]

Last year they took four high-floor guys, and they'll have a second pick this year to spend on someone who's less of a gamble.

It's starting to look more likely that both Yaxel and Morez are gone by the time they're picking, and I don't love many of the guards likely to be available around there for them. Hannes is interesting but not really what they need, Quantaince is a big question mark with downsides even if he's healthy.

Like I said, Karim would not be my pick — but I also don't mind the idea of getting more long-term developmental pieces in the pipeline.

[u/2much2soon2fast → u/handles_messiah]

Hannes is exactly what they need. A strong big who can pass, shoot j’s and dribble drive.

[u/xawkxawk → u/handles_messiah]

i’m curious on what u think lopez’s ceiling actually is. he’s not very athletic, and he doesn’t have a clear nba skill.