With the 2025-26 season over, the Golden State Warriors can officially turn the page to the offseason. One of the first chapters of Golden State’s pivotal offseason will revolve around the upcoming NBA draft. While the Warriors weren’t able to punch a ticket to the postseason, they did land a highly sought-after lottery pick in a stacked draft class headlined by potential future stars.
While the Warriors won’t know exactly where they’re picking until the draft lottery on May 10, Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Steve Kerr are projected to be on the clock with the No. 11 pick.
With the No. 11 in the latest mock draft from Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, the Warriors landed a do-it-all forward out of New Zealand’s NBL. At No. 11, O’Connor penned New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez to the Warriors. According to O’Connor, Lopez’s versatility would “work well with the Warriors.”
Via Yahoo.com:
Lopez is a forward out of Mexico who spent two seasons in the NBL’s Next Stars program, averaging nearly 12 points and six rebounds. He’s a smart cutter who finds scoring lanes within the flow of the offense, a solid shooter, and a versatile defender. That two-way versatility would work well with the Warriors, who need to replenish the roster with some upside.
Draymond Green could actually be quite a good mentor for Lopez, given they’re both hard-nosed players who make a winning effort at all times on the court.
Read the full mock draft from O’Connor via Yahoo here.
Growing up in Mexico, Lopez began playing professionally overseas in Spain at 14 years-old with Joventut Badalona in the Liga ACB. Lopez has played the last two seasons playing with the NZ Breakers in New Zealand’s NBL. In 31 games with the Breakers last year, Lopez averaged 11.9 points on 50.2% shooting from the field and 32.6% fron beyond the arc to go along with 6.1 rebounds, two assists and 1.2 steals in 25.8 minutes per game. Lopez dropped a season-high 32 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field with eight boards against Melbourne United in January.
Lopez will join players like LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, Alex Sarr and Ousmane Dieng to make the jump from the NBL to the NBA.
The first round of the NBA draft is set to take place on June 23 in Brooklyn.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors land versatile forward out of the NBL in new NBA mock draft
Reporting by Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
