Redrafting the Spurs first spherical picks: Spherical 5: Will anybody draft Josh Primo?

The Spurs have a well-earned fame for being nice drafters. From superstars to elite function gamers, San Antonio has historically gotten contributors even with out excessive picks within the Gregg Popovich period. The query is, simply how deep is the expertise pool, actually? The PtR employees got down to discover the reply.

Jacob Douglas, Jesus Gomez, J.R. Wilco and I participated in a snake draft to construct groups from the pool of Spurs’ first-round draft picks of the Pop period — perhaps it’s too overly-specific however you’ve bought to start out someplace. (And if we now have a variety of enjoyable — trace, we’re — perhaps we’ll do it once more with a a lot wider pool to select from.) The pool begins with Tim Duncan via Stephon Fortress for a complete of twenty-two gamers, together with draft night time acquisition Kawhi Leonard however not picks who by no means performed for the Spurs. Under are the gamers drafted thus far:

Group Jacob

Dejounte Murray, PG (twenty ninth, 2016)
Stephon Fortress, SG (4th, 2024)
Kyle Anderson, SF (thirtieth, 2014)
Victor Wembanyama, C (1st, 2023)

Group J.R.

Cory Joseph, PG (twenty ninth, 2011)
George Hill, SG (twenty sixth, 2008)
Tim Duncan, PF (1st, 1997)
Tiago Splitter, C (twenty eighth, 2007)

Group Marilyn

Tony Parker, PG (twenty eighth, 2001)
Derrick White, SG (twenty ninth, 2017)
Lonnie Walker, SF (18th, 2018)
Jeremy Sochan, PF (ninth, 2022)

Group Jesus

Devin Vassell, SG (eleventh, 2020)
Keldon Johnson, SF (twenty ninth, 2019)
Kawhi Leonard, PF (fifteenth, 2011)
Ian Mahinmi, C (twenty eighth, 2005)

And listed here are the gamers nonetheless ready to be drafted:

Beno Udrih, PG (twenty eighth, 2004)
James Anderson, SG (twentieth, 2009)
Luka Samanic, PF (nineteenth, 2019)
Josh Primo, PG (twelfth, 2021)
Malaki Branham, SG (twentieth, 2022)
Blake Wesley, SG (twenty fourth, 2022)

We’re all the way down to our ultimate picks of this train, and at this level it’s a matter of filling the ultimate slot with a participant that both greatest compliments or no less than doesn’t damage the line-up as a complete. There’s nonetheless some expertise left, however can we discover the fitting ultimate piece, or is all of it simply desperation at this level? Time to search out out! (Reminder, as a result of it is a snake draft, the order of selecting is the reverse of the earlier spherical.)

17. Jacob Douglas: Beno Udrih (twenty eighth, 2004)

My solely aim with this ultimate choice was to get a little bit of taking pictures. I briefly thought of James Anderson to offer us some dimension on the wing, however he didn’t shoot nicely from deep exterior of his rookie season. Malaki Branham confirmed indicators of deep taking pictures potential, however his protection turned me away. So I land on the 13-year veteran in Beno Udrih to supply some ground spacing (35% profession three-point shooter who hit 39% of his threes within the 2007-2008 season) and the flexibility to protect ball-handlers. Look, I do know I technically have three “level guards.” I view Dejounte Murray as my major initiator, Udrih as an off-ball shooter who can deal with the ball in spurts and Stephon Fortress as a slashing, defensive wing that may deal with secondary playmaking.

With Udrih in place, I’ve a crew with 5 gamers who can dribble, move, defend and shoot from deep (for probably the most half.) I actually just like the crew’s versatility and defensive potential.

18. J.R. Wilco: Malaki Branham (twentieth, 2022)

Branham fell to me at 18? I’m dwelling a charmed life!

Okay, perhaps I’m not being 100% critical, however I’m greater than midway there. With my protection set, and my offense established across the Huge Elementary, all I actually need with my fifth participant is somebody who can clear up the scraps — and with the opponent’s protection targeted on conserving Duncan from consuming them alive, there shall be loads of performs the place a man Branham can make the most of a recovering defender. He’s proven flashes over the past couple of seasons, nevertheless it’s in a longtime system with everybody realizing their function and no simple holes to assault that I can see Malaki thriving. And by thriving, I imply not messing something up too dangerous, as a result of the remainder of crew is aware of what to do. Is that this crew constructed to play ball within the 2020’s, in no way. It is a squad that’ll play via Tim on the peak of his powers: shutting groups down with an inside protection that may not often hand over factors, and an offense that is likely to be old-school, however is able to glorious ball motion and shall be extremely environment friendly.

19. Marilyn Dubinski: Luka Samanic (nineteenth, 2019)

Properly, I already know I’ve misplaced as a result of I made the error of filling out my backcourt first regardless of dimension being a premium on this pool. At this level, all I can suppose to do to assist my crew is add what little dimension is left, and that’s the notorious Luka Samanic, who, as Jesus so properly identified to me, simply bought waived by Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to make room for none apart from a former Spur who noticed no time on the ground: Khem Birch. Ugh. Samanic seemingly has loads of untapped potential however lacks the work ethic to meet it. Regardless, all I’m asking of Tall Luka is to defend, seize rebounds and simply move it out to Parker or White to allow them to provoke a quick break since pace shall be my crew’s one and solely benefit towards everybody else. Is that basically an excessive amount of to ask?

20. Jesus Gomez: Blake Wesley (twenty fourth, 2022)

I simply need to say for the report that I’ve not bullied Marilyn (an excessive amount of) for selecting Tall Luka as her middle. This late within the draft you get what you may get, which is why I picked Blake Wesley. Is he an NBA participant? Not if his shot doesn’t enhance. However he’s simply 21 years previous and he has wonderful bodily instruments which have translated on the defensive finish. With the scoring I’m getting from Kawhi, Devin and Keldon all I wanted had been two defensive-minded function gamers, and that’s what I bought to spherical out my crew. If Wesley might be extra disciplined and provides me nice point-of-attack protection in the way in which Mahinmi can present rim safety, I’m assured in my beginning 5 towards anybody.

And with that, listed here are the ultimate groups:

Group Jacob

Dejounte Murray
Beno Udrih
Stephon Fortress
Kyle Anderson
Victor Wembanyama

Group J.R.

Cory Joseph
Malaki Branham
George Hill
Tim Duncan
Tiago Splitter

Group Marilyn

Tony Parker
Derrick White
Lonnie Walker
Luka Samanic
Jeremy Sochan

Group Jesus

Blake Wesley
Devin Vassell
Keldon Johnson
Kawhi Leonard
Ian Mahinmi

So, to reply the query within the headline: no, nobody drafted Josh Primo. The opposite participant ignored was James Anderson, who got here into the league with a lot promise, and he regarded the half in his first few video games with the Spurs, however sadly a foot damage after simply six video games derailed his season and in the end his profession, as he by no means regarded the identical after that and was out of the league after six seasons.

However after all, crucial query of all is who drafted the successful crew? You may reply within the ballot and feedback, and as soon as once more we thanks for sticking round via one other offseason! We had a variety of enjoyable with this undertaking and really nicely might do it once more subsequent summer time however with a a lot wider discipline (that method Marilyn can’t fail so badly). Coaching camp is simply over every week away!