One of many Spurs’ 2024 draft picks has discovered his new group. Juan Nuñez, who San Antonio chosen with the thirty sixth general choose they acquired from the Pacers by way of commerce, will play subsequent season with Barcelona, the Spanish membership introduced.
Nuñez performed for Ulm in Germany final season, competing within the home league and the Eurocup, the continent’s second-best worldwide membership competitors. Now the promising level guard will return to his native Spain to go well with up for some of the recognizable and profitable groups in European basketball, a transparent step up in his profession. After spending his teenage years taking part in for Actual Madrid, he’ll be a part of their archrival on a stacked roster that includes a number of former NBA gamers who will try to safe a EuroLeague title. He signed a three-year deal that possible has an NBA out, in keeping with earlier studies.
The Spurs traded the thirty fifth choose to the Pacers, who used it in Johnny Furphy, for the thirty sixth choose that landed them Nuñez. Initially, rumors from Spain steered that San Antonio was contemplating bringing him over instantly, however these subsided as soon as Chris Paul signed with the Silver and Black. From then on Nuñez was linked strongly to Barcelona, which ended up securing his companies. There was some uncertainty over whether or not he was going to truly signal with the Blaugrane as a result of Barcelona and Actual Madrid had a battle over former lottery choose Mario Hezonja and Madrid had the best to match any supply for Nuñez, however the operation went by means of. Nuñez can be courting one of many daughters of the top of basketball operations for Barcelona, Juan Carlos Navarro, so the transfer had extra scrutiny than most.
Nuñez ought to get minutes for Barca for the reason that membership parted methods with level guard Rokas Jokubaitis and Ricky Rubio. He must compete with former Spur Nicolas Laprovittola and Tomas Satoransky, however Nuñez is taken into account one of many younger jewels of Spanish basketball and Barcelona made a giant funding in him, so he ought to get each alternative to say taking part in time. The 6’4” pick-and-roll playmaker may have nice companions to run the two-man sport, as former lottery choose Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez are there to set picks for him. Amongst different names NBA followers is perhaps acquainted with, Nuñez may also share a locker room with Alex Abrines, Jabari Parker and Justin Anderson. The group will look to compete within the home league in addition to the EuroLeague and has the expertise to make noise subsequent season.
After barely lacking out on being part of Spain’s nationwide group within the Olympics, staying in Europe taking part in for a group that has a top quality roster and will have a task for him appears the very best step for Nuñez’s growth. The Spurs merely have too many guards proper now who want minutes or growth time and the 20-year-old may haven’t gotten the eye and taking part in time he wants because the group makes an attempt to be extra aggressive within the brief time period. If he lives as much as his upside, Nuñez will discover his strategy to San Antonio when he’s extra NBA-ready and the franchise has a spot for him. Stashing Nuñez may additionally permit the Silver and Black to signal him as he enters his prime as an alternative of getting to assist spherical out his sport. The expertise is there for Nuñez to be a steal, but it surely would possibly take him some time to get there.
We’ll convey you common updates as soon as Nuñez’s season begins.
