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The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired Karim Lopez with the No. 21 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Memphis had the No. 16 pick in the draft, but the Grizzlies agreed to trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 17 pick and two future second-rounders, according to multiple reports. The Grizzlies then moved down to No. 21 and added three more future second-round picks.
Lopez, a 19-year old forward from Mexico, joins Cameron Boozer as Grizzlies first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Boozer was selected No. 3 overall. He is the first Mexican-born player to be drafted in the first round in NBA history.
Lopez spent the last two years playing in Australia's NBL professional league. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 25.8 minutes per game this season.
At 6-foot-8 with a nearly seven-foot wingspan, Lopez has impressive measurables and projects to be an impact defender early in his career.
Memphis is building an enticing young core as it pivots to a rebuild. Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Boozer and Lopez are among the players tasked with fast-tracking the turnaround.
After the season ended, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said the Grizzlies wanted to get bigger, stronger and faster moving forward. Adding Lopez and Boozer is a step in that direction.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies trade back, add Karim Lopez in 2026 NBA Draft
Continue reading...
Memphis had the No. 16 pick in the draft, but the Grizzlies agreed to trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 17 pick and two future second-rounders, according to multiple reports. The Grizzlies then moved down to No. 21 and added three more future second-round picks.
Lopez, a 19-year old forward from Mexico, joins Cameron Boozer as Grizzlies first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. Boozer was selected No. 3 overall. He is the first Mexican-born player to be drafted in the first round in NBA history.
Lopez spent the last two years playing in Australia's NBL professional league. He averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 25.8 minutes per game this season.
At 6-foot-8 with a nearly seven-foot wingspan, Lopez has impressive measurables and projects to be an impact defender early in his career.
Memphis is building an enticing young core as it pivots to a rebuild. Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Boozer and Lopez are among the players tasked with fast-tracking the turnaround.
After the season ended, Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman said the Grizzlies wanted to get bigger, stronger and faster moving forward. Adding Lopez and Boozer is a step in that direction.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies trade back, add Karim Lopez in 2026 NBA Draft
Continue reading...
