Pops may be athletic like Ham and Wallace, but he's not near the defender either one is. But to me, it really comes down to strength. Pops doesn't muscle anyone around on either end. He'll need to if he wants to play at that level.
On a side note though, at the avier game there was a scout from the Bobcats evaluating only three players during the game: Pops, JR and Brian Thorton.