The Spurs moved up from eighth to second within the draft order after the 2025 lottery, narrowly lacking out on the chance to pick out Cooper Flagg however enhancing their prospects going into an vital offseason.
After the occasion, Normal Supervisor Brian Wright and Head Coach Mitch Johnson talked to the media about it and confirmed a mixture of warning and pleasure about what getting to select second means for the franchise.
“Shock, pleasure — you are feeling all of the feelings,” Wright stated after being requested how he felt when it was introduced that the franchise received the second choose. Johnson echoed his assertion, saying that it was arduous for him to observe the consequence initially, with so many groups shifting up. “I knew we had been within the high 4. I didn’t know who we had been there with. And that’s clearly the one objective, to get into the highest 4, making it to the business and see what occurs. And we went down with a combating likelihood with No. 2, however we’re comfortable,” Johnson stated, not hiding that the hope was to get the highest choose and Flagg.
Each males had been clearly ecstatic to have moved up however made positive to not elevate the expectations for whoever prospect they find yourself choosing.
“I don’t assume you wish to put a timeline on it or unfair expectations,” Johnson stated when requested in the event that they count on the No. 2 choose to assist out straight away. “Everyone has a special, I suppose, onboarding on this league. This league just isn’t straightforward. However any time you’ve got the flexibility so as to add somebody with the caliber of expertise we’re taking a look at with the No. 2 choose, it’s somebody who has excessive upside and a excessive flooring, which you assume can be a giant a part of what you’ve got going shifting ahead.”
Wright was much more cautious when requested in the event that they had been anticipating their choose to assist instantly. “You’d assume so. You already know, at all times guys need to get on the market and show it and earn every thing they get, however there are some actually proficient gamers on the high of the draft, so we’re enthusiastic about what they might deliver.”
Lastly, each the manager and the coach made positive to not neglect in regards to the 14th choose, highlighting that additionally they contemplate it a superb asset that might assist them construct a greater roster.
“We had been enthusiastic about having two lottery picks on this draft, it’s a deep draft, there’s a number of good gamers, a number of dynamic, versatile, completely different kind of gamers. And so I believe our group is at all times going to do their due diligence and take a look at two good younger items so as to add to the group,” Johnson stated.
“I believe you’ll hear it in among the conversations round this draft, that this can be a deep draft,” Wright acknowledged. “So we have now a number of work to do to sort of put it collectively, however within the early planning, we just like the potential group that may very well be there.”
As Wright stated, the Spurs have a number of work forward of them earlier than the draft, but it surely’s clearly one thing they’re trying ahead to, as they proceed to attempt to construct a contender.
“We’re excited to go ahead. Nice evening for the group, for town, for the group.” It’s protected to say the Spurs’ fanbase feels the identical means their normal supervisor does.
