The Bucks may have some interest in Karim Lopez with their No. 10 overall draft pick, as noted by ESPN's Jeremy Woo, but he'd be a risky selection who probably won't be ready to contribute right away. With that considered, taking him in the draft only makes sense if the Bucks are not planning to keep superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo for next season.
If Antetokounmpo stays, Lopez won't be ready in time to help the Milwaukee Bucks compete while Giannis is still in his prime.
Karim Lopez will be a project pick
Lopez has a lot of potential as one of the draft's youngest prospects with tantalizing physical tools. He's barely 19 years old and stands at 6-foot-9 with a nearly 7-foot wingspan. He's also flashed signs of potential in many different skills, whether it's shooting, defense, or ball-handling.
However, Lopez likely won't be a good NBA player for a few years. He's so raw now that any team that drafts him will need to develop him significantly. And that's the exact opposite of what the Bucks need to keep Giannis on the team and continue their current era. If Milwaukee is interested in keeping the Greek Freak, they're better off targeting trades for veteran stars or drafting someone more NBA-ready.
Lopez is also a relatively unknown commodity since he played this season in New Zealand's NBL rather than in the NCAA like most other prospects. Unlike other top players in the draft pool, Lopez played a supporting role on a pro team with older players rather than leading a team against his peers.
There's still a path for the Bucks to take Lopez
Taking Lopez at all with the 10th overall pick might be a stretch selection anyway, but the Bucks can find a way to justify his selection if they get more picks out of a Giannis trade. In particular, a theoretical trade package from the Thunder is appealing. Oklahoma City is coming off a Conference Finals loss and has a seemingly infinite treasure chest of picks to trade, including No. 12 and No. 17 this year.
At either the 12th or 17th spot, Lopez would be a more realistic pick and could theoretically fit into a Bucks rebuild. If the Bucks move on from Giannis, their core pieces will be players from Giannis' trade return and Ryan Rollins. Ideally, that entire core will be very young and give Lopez time to develop before they're all ready to contend.
If the Bucks can give Lopez time to develop properly, he will have a high ceiling based on his growing skills and impressive physical profile. As a big and versatile forward, he can eventually become an ideal option to round out the team's lineup - but not anytime soon.
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