Mavericks predicted to make risky gamble in new mock draft

In NBA aficionado Kevin O’Connor’s latest mock draft, which was published on May 18, he has the Dallas Mavericks using their ninth overall pick to select a risky prospect who’s barely been mentioned as a fit in Dallas. That prospect is 19-year-old Karim Lopez, a Mexican forward who most recently suited up for the New Zealand Breakers.

While Lopez is a promising prospect, this is the type of draft reach that Mavericks fans would be fed up with. On top of this, Dallas needs guard depth much more than they need a forward.

Not a good combination of factors for a team trying to build a contender around Cooper Flagg.

Dallas Mavericks linked to Karim Lopez at No. 9

Lopez isn’t some unknown prospect; he’s ESPN’s 11th-ranked talent, came in at No. 10 in Bleacher Report’s post-combine mock draft, and is listed 13th on Tankathon’s big board. Nevertheless, he’s hardly, if ever, been mentioned as a potential name to monitor for the Mavericks.

The 19-year-old is coming off a season in which he averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game for the Breakers. While he only led his team in one of those categories (blocks), it’s impressive, nonetheless, that he was able to produce at that level as an 18-year-old in one of the world’s most physical leagues.

Yet, that’s exactly what makes Lopez such an intriguing prospect. As O’Connor wrote, “He checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hard-nosed approach, and a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions.”

Why Lopez could be viewed as a risky NBA Draft prospect

Measuring 6-foot-8.25 with a 6-foot-11.5 wingspan and 221 pounds, Lopez looks like an NBA power forward built in a lab.

But with such strong measurements and early impact, what makes Lopez a risky prospect? Well, as multiple draft outlets have noted, including O’Connor, he’s something of a “jack of all trades.” That might sound like a good thing, but he projects more as a master of none, without a true bankable skill.

Lopez shot below 50 percent from the floor and just 32.2 percent from three-point range, ranked sixth in the NBL in fouls, and doesn’t yet profile as a modern, positionally versatile forward. He's more of a traditional power forward in today’s NBA landscape.

In Dallas, that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. The Mavericks need more do-it-all wings, especially with Naji Marshall’s status as an impending free agent. Moreover, Lopez would project as a snug fit next to the extremely versatile Cooper Flagg at power forward. His all-around game could fit well in Dallas’ lineup.

Does Lopez make sense for Dallas?

But is that what Dallas is looking for at No. 9? The lone first-round pick they’ll control over the next few years? A 19-year-old with a seemingly high floor? Not necessarily, especially with several players who boast higher ceilings and more upside still on the board.

In O’Connor’s May 18 mock draft, he has Michigan's Aday Mara going 12th and Houston's Kingston Flemings landing 13th. Both offer more bankable skill sets at positions of need for Dallas.

Mara offers monstrous size at 7-foot-3 and also brings a modern passing skill set. Meanwhile, Flemings, still only 19, starred for a top-ranked Cougars team and recently impressed at the combine with his shooting. He also plays point guard, which is a position Dallas so desperately needs, especially with Kyrie Irving now 34 years old.

Sure, Lopez next to Flagg on the wing projects as a tandem for years to come. But with P.J. Washington signed through 2030, Lopez’s high-floor, low-ceiling profile, and other potentially better prospects still on the board, he would be a risky gamble in a draft that must be nailed.

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