The Milwaukee Bucks are no strangers to making risky selections in the NBA Draft. This year, they have the No. 10 pick, the highest they have had in a long time, but there are still so many questions around what they might do at that spot. Forward Nate Ament has been heavily linked as a prospect they may take at 10, but if they want upside, pivoting towards Karim Lopez may make more sense.
Karim Lopez has convincing optics that may intrigue the Bucks
Milwaukee met with Lopez at the Draft Combine. The 6-foot-9, 222lbs wing plays for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), and that frame has allowed him to compete with an abundance of older and more experienced players Down Under. The Bucks have been searching for a long-term small forward for some time now. Lopez could be on the radar.
It is a pretty thin international prospect class compared to what we have seen in recent years. Lopez remains the top prospect, but many analysts and scouts find it difficult to assess him. Browse through mock drafts, and you will see Lopez as low as 28 but as high as 11. There is clear potential and upside, but also a lot of risk involved with taking him as high as 10.
Physically, he has the tools to make an impact in an NBA rotation, with his ability to switch defensively, something the Bucks have built towards in recent seasons. He is a brilliant driver to the paint; it may not look pretty at times, but he has the strength to power through defenders while also keeping his balance to find angles to get his shot up. His 3-point shooting still needs work at just 33.7 percent this season, with him looking far more comfortable in space and stationary.
The big question with any international player that is expected to land outside the top five picks is how they will adapt to the pace and athleticism of the NBA. Lopez certainly has the tools and is a player that many expect to be a great developmental option, rather than an immediate contributor. It makes him very intriguing, but also a huge risk.
Milwaukee's direction will decide whether they gamble with a project
In 2024, the Bucks selected AJ Johnson over more NBA-ready prospects, only to move him on half a season later. A pick as high as 10, the Bucks have to nail, but that also will be dictated by what direction they go in. Taking Johnson when still aiming to compete was a puzzling selection.
Now, under Taylor Jenkins, they need to decide whether to aim to build towards getting back into the playoffs or go for it straight away. As always, that will depend on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo stays or not.
The concern around Ament was his inconsistent season at Tennessee. Some flashes saw him jump as high as a top-five pick on draft boards, with him now expected late in the lottery, though many still aren't sold on him yet. Ament can definitely become a great player in the long term, but the Bucks haven't exactly shown their patience with prospects in recent years, and the same can be said if they draft Lopez.
Changes to the roster this offseason and a complete rebuild would see Lopez and Bogoljub Markovic be the likely long-term three and four, which would be fun to see. Both players would likely be given more leeway due to the shrinking expectations.
It is such a loaded draft class that there will be some sure-fire picks for the Bucks at the 10 spot. Lopez feels like a really good pivot away from Ament if they want to go with upside, but it is still such a risky pick considering the recent draft history of the team.
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