The Charlotte Hornets are predicted to select an international forward in the NBA Draft.
The Charlotte Hornets are in a great spot heading into the offseason, as they finished with a 44-38 record in the 2025-26 season.
The Hornets hold the 14th and 18th overall picks, as they look to upgrade the roster with two young pieces. In Bleacher Report's latest mock draft, Charlotte selects Karim López with the 18th overall pick.
López is an international prospect from Mexico and is a versatile player who will likely go in the mid-first round. He has played for New Zealand in the NBL over the past two seasons.
In the 2025-26 season, López averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 steals, and a block per game. He shot 50.2 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from three.
The 19-year-old is versatile and athletic but still needs to develop consistency and shooting on offense. Charlotte could use more depth at forward as Miles Bridges and Grant Williams are in the final years of their deals, and Tidjane Salaün is still developing.
The Hornets have three key pieces they can count on at the moment with LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller. Ball has established himself as a top point guard, averaging 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 40.7 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from deep.
Knueppel played at a high level in his rookie season, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting and averaging 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from distance.
Miller also continued to improve in his third campaign in the league, averaging 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a steal per game, shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from behind the arc.
Beyond adding to this trio and the draft, the Hornets will also have to make key decisions in free agency, including on guard Coby White, who played well for the team after the trade deadline.
If Charlotte can add some core pieces to the draft, like López, to develop, it will help them make a playoff push in the 2026-27 season.
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