Karim Lopez To Grizzlies At No. 21

After trading down twice, from No. 16 to 17 to 21, the Grizzlies have drafted forward Karim Lopez. The Pistons technically made the pick on behalf of Memphis, since the trade will be officially finalized after the draft.

Widely regarded as the top international prospect in this year’s draft class, Lopez is the first player born in Mexico to be selected in the first round of an NBA draft.

Lopez, 19, spent the past two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s National Basketball League. The 6’9″ forward averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game while shooting 49% from the field during the 2025/26 NBL season. He set several records for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars, including the single-season points record with 358 in his 30 starts, and held his own against more experienced veterans, playing a key role during the Breakers’ run to an Ignite Cup (in-season tournament) crown.

Prior to arriving in New Zealand, Lopez played for Joventut Badalona’s B team in Spain from 2022-24. He earned a promotion to Badalona’s senior squad near the end of the 2023/24 season and made brief appearances in four games for the club before departing for the NBL.

Lopez caps a productive first round for Memphis, which selected Cameron Boozer with the No. 3 pick and accumulated five second-round picks by trading down twice. Some draft experts projected Lopez as a late lottery pick, so the Grizzlies got good value by nabbing Lopez at the No. 22 spot.

Lopez could push for playing time at either forward spot behind Boozer and Jaylen Wells. The Grizzlies are reportedly open to offers for a good portion of their roster, including power forward Santi Aldama. How the trade market shakes out could determine where Lopez stands in the pecking order entering his rookie season.