In late August, Bleacher Report launched their future NBA draft asset rankings. First on the listing was in fact the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who’ve been praised (or lauded, relying in your view of rebuilding methods) for accumulating belongings through the years. The San Antonio Spurs are proper behind them on the listing, with 5 extra picks coming from different groups over the following 4 years.
The Spurs haven’t been as apparent of their draft accumulation for so long as the Thunder. But with some good strikes during the last three years, they’ve put the franchise within the place to accumulate an inflow of younger expertise via the draft. The 2024 draft, whereas not as loaded with high-end expertise because the 2023 draft, might be a giant one for San Antonio.
If all the things goes proper, they may have three first spherical picks in 2024. The Spurs have already got a deep staff with younger expertise, together with Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham and Tre Jones. There is probably not room for 3 extra rookies. Having three picks provides them some flexibility to commerce up or out of the draft to assemble much more future belongings.
Due to decide protections, that situation requires two Jap Convention groups to not fully tank subsequent yr. Since these groups usually are not standing in the best way of San Antonio’s Western Convention standings, it’s protected for Spurs followers to root for them this yr. When you’ve got a free night time this season, think about rooting for the next groups to enhance the Spurs draft standing.
The Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets owe the Spurs a top-14 protected decide acquired from the Atlanta Hawks within the Dejounte Murray commerce. If it doesn’t convey this yr or subsequent, it would flip right into a 2026 second spherical decide. Clearly San Antonio would favor that they get a primary out of this deal reasonably than a second rounder in three years.
The Hornets are in an odd spot which makes their standing within the league onerous to decipher. Final yr was marred by off-the-court points and accidents. Important gamers that led the staff to the play-in match in 2021-22 like Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward all missed time. This yr we’ll see these guys return to the courtroom, alongside new additions Brandon Miller and Nick Smith Jr.
Final yr the Hornets began to compete defensively below the tutelage of Steve Clifford, however struggled mightily to attain the basketball. With Ball and Bridges again within the fold, they are going to have extra offensive firepower to match the defensive depth Clifford calls for. In a finest case situation, Miller makes an on the spot impression and the staff’s depth round their core items holds up.
It’s onerous to think about the Hornets leaping from one of many worst groups within the league to creating the field-of-16, particularly within the more and more aggressive Jap Convention. If final yr was extra of a bump within the street reasonably than a development in the direction of the underside, they might have an opportunity to get out of the lottery, and web the Spurs a decide doubtless within the 15-20 vary.
The Spurs can have two video games in opposition to Charlotte subsequent yr, each being performed in January. They’ll face off on ESPN January twelfth for a sport in San Antonio.
The Toronto Raptors
The Jakob Poeltl commerce might grow to be top-of-the-line of Brian Wright’s tenure as Spurs GM. Not solely did buying and selling the massive man help the Spurs of their race for Wembanyama, nevertheless it additionally netted them the decide that became Sidy Cissoko and a top-6 protected first within the 2024 draft. If the decide doesn’t convey in 2024 via 2026, it turns into a second rounder in 2027, making it doubtless San Antonio get a very good extra draft decide within the subsequent three years.
Spurs followers don’t need the Raptors to be too good. Ideally this can be a staff that makes the play-in, or falls simply wanting it. Touchdown a decide within the back-end of the lottery can be a giant win in a draft that doesn’t have as a lot high-end expertise as 2023.
The Raptors are at a crossroads proper now. They simply misplaced their franchise level guard Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets in free company. Pascal Siakam and O.G. Anunoby are widespread commerce targets across the league, and the franchise’s finest younger participant, Scottie Barnes, suffered an amazing sophomore hunch final season. The re-signing of Poeltl and lack of Siakam commerce makes it look like this staff is extra than profitable video games than tanking, however in a crowded japanese convention, it’s onerous to think about this staff coming into playoff competition.
Reply this questions for me. Do you suppose the Raptors are higher than any of the next groups?
A type of groups received’t make the highest 8. There’s additionally the bettering Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers and aforementioned Hornets. The East seems to be prefer it might be pretty aggressive subsequent season, and the Raptors could also be on the skin wanting in. Rooting for Toronto to be a play-in contending staff is the candy spot for Spurs followers who’re enthusiastic about having a number of picks within the ‘24 draft.
San Antonio will play a house and away sport in opposition to the Raptors in November and February.
