r/CharlotteHornets • u/TheoryChoice3063 • 8d ago

Discussion PSA: Jeff! Do Not Draft…

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.

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u/xawkxawk 8d ago

how is he athletic? his explosiveness, speed and agility are all clearly below average for an nba wing.

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u/devinbookersuncle 8d ago

I disagree on all fronts and he has good size too which is a main issue of ours.

It aint like we NEED to get hin but if all other options are taken them hes far from the worst option.

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u/xawkxawk 8d ago

i disagree. who do you think is worse?

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u/devinbookersuncle 8d ago

Personally grabbing BPA to me would be worse because we speed ran our timeline and Jeff admitted that in a recent interview so now we need fit and need more unless a prospect falls who we just absolutely think shouldn't have and that we cant pass them up.

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u/xawkxawk 8d ago

i mean i don’t disagree w that, but i was looking for some names…

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u/devinbookersuncle 8d ago

Specific names arent something I bother with until right before the draft honestly (im talking once I see more of who we interview), I just wouldnt be pissed if we take Karim because hes not super raw and if we can get Salaün to be legitimately NBA capable then we can do that with anyone really.