New Chicago Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter helped Deni Avdija become an All-Star in Portland. There's an Avdija-like prospect waiting for him in the 2026 NBA Draft that he could find similar success with: Karim Lopez.
The Bulls are predicted to select North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson with the fourth overall pick on June 23. That leaves the No. 15 pick (which Chicago ironically got from the Trail Blazers) as another valuable tool to inject young talent into the roster.
It should be a best-player-available approach this summer for executive VP of basketball operations, Bryson Graham. Depending on how the lottery shakes out, Lopez may be in the discussion at 15.
Karim Lopez could be Tiago Splitter's new Deni Avdija
For starters, check out Avdija's listed measurables compared to those of Lopez:
- Avdija: 6-foot-8, 228 pounds, 6-foot-9 wingspan, 8-foot-5 standing reach
- Lopez: 6-foot-9, 221 pounds, 6-foot-11 wingspan, 8-foot-9 standing reach
Avdija is 25 years old. Lopez is nearly as big with a longer wingspan at just 19. He's one of this draft's youngest prospects.
Lopez held his own physically in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), a league filled with grown men and former Division 1 college players.
Like Avdija, what Lopez lacks in explosive athleticism he makes up for in strength and length, which allows him to adequately defend bigger players. While he's not quite as advanced as Avdija as a playmaker, he's a smart, willing connective piece on offense who will keep the ball moving and make the right play.
Again, like Avdija, he's at his best as a scorer getting downhill and using his size to attack the rim.
The biggest swing skill for Lopez will be his 3-point stroke. He shot 32.2 percent from 3-point range last season in the NBL — though Avdija is a career 33.3 percent shooter from deep and that hasn't held him back.
Graham, Splitter have a unique opportunity in the 2026 NBA Draft
Entering the lottery with the ninth-best odds and leaving with the fourth overall pick in a historically stacked draft class like this was an incredible win for the Bulls.
Adding the No. 15 pick is icing on the cake. But Chicago can't squander the opportunity.
Splitter will begin his tenure in the Windy City with Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue. He'll add two elite prospects and potentially a third as the Bulls hold the 38th overall pick as well.
Graham has upwards of $50 million in cap space he can use to aggressively pursue the right player — center Walker Kessler, for instance. Potentially landing Wilson at No. 4 would give Chicago even more size, length, athleticism and physicality.
If the Bulls add Lopez, they would be adding even more of that size and strength and handing Splitter a familiar ball of clay to mold.
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