All the things factors to the Spurs drafting Dylan Harper second general. Do you are concerned about his match with the present roster?
Marilyn Dubinski: I’m not anxious in any respect. There are some circumstances the place you simply don’t go on expertise out of concern of match, and Harper is a kind of circumstances, particularly contemplating there’s a fairly respectable dropoff behind him. Not solely is that this the primary time the Spurs are choosing 2nd general, but when issues go in accordance with plan, it needs to be the final time their very own choose is within the lottery for years to return, so make the most of this large reward the lottery gods supplied. When it comes to match, the principle concern is that neither Harper, De’Aaron Fox nor Stephon Fort are knockdown three-point shooters, but when two of them can merely turn into good at it on prime of all their different expertise, drawback solved. Fort and Harper nonetheless have loads of room to enhance, and if it doesn’t work out, somebody can be price some good commerce belongings down the road.
Mark Barrington: I don’t assume it’s one thing to be involved about. If a participant is de facto good, any respectable coach will discover a approach to play them. It largely makes me fear about Branham and Wesley, who aren’t going to get a lot court docket time except they make some large enhancements over the summer season. There can be loads of time for Fox, Fort, and Harper to take turns main the staff, however these different two would possibly find yourself gathering a variety of splinters, or get dealt to a different staff that isn’t overstocked with guards.
Jesus Gomez: There’s some apparent overlap in expertise with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Fort, however there are a variety of methods to seek out taking part in time for all of them. Harper shouldn’t be a foul catch-and-shoot man, in accordance with the numbers, so he appears extra able to play off the ball than Fort was as a rookie. He’s additionally a high-level prospect who is anticipated to be an All-Star caliber participant, so that you simply take him and determine the remaining later. If he’s higher than Fort, you’ll be able to simply transfer Fort. If the 2 younger guys can play collectively, somebody can be desperate to get Fox in a commerce a yr from now. The Spurs’ core shouldn’t be set but, so expertise trumps match for now.
Devon Birdsong: I believe fear is just too sturdy a phrase for me. I do have some considerations concerning the Spurs drafting one other guard with perimeter taking pictures points, however Harper’s really a good spot-up shooter with no main free-throw points, and people traits are inclined to venture properly in the long run. Match can be a query in case you’re projecting him as an All-Star stage expertise (and it is best to) as a result of he has a variety of skill-set duplication with DeAaron Fox (it’s eerie how comparable they have been popping out of faculty). If Fort and Harper are ok to push for beginning roles, I suppose Fort might play on the 3. In any case, that’s all very cart-before-the-horse, because it appears extra possible that as a rookie Harper will get most of his minutes this season working the second unit. And actually, if that type of dilemma does find yourself rearing its head, that solely bodes properly for the Spurs.
Jacob Douglas: On a scale of 1-10, I’d rank my fear at about 4. Having a number of gamers who can create with the ball of their palms for themselves and others is a large plus within the trendy NBA recreation. These gamers additionally want to have the ability to shoot. Harper shot the ball properly on catch-and-shoot alternatives at Rutgers, and one has to surprise if his mid-season harm had something to do with a taking pictures hunch. If he’s a 35% or above shooter on the subsequent stage, I believe San Antonio can be advantageous, as Fox has proven he have to be revered from the perimeter. Sooner or later, San Antonio HAS so as to add taking pictures to maximise this roster.
The Spurs have the 14th and thirty eighth picks. Do you assume they need to use them so as to add younger expertise or commerce for speedy assist?
Dubinski: It will depend on who’s out there and what the purpose is for subsequent season. I wouldn’t rely on second-round picks to carry any speedy assist, but when there’s younger huge out there at 14th, it could actually be a helpful choose. That being mentioned, I’m additionally not towards it getting used to commerce for extra dependable assist straight away if the Spurs’ purpose is to be greater than merely a playoff contender this season.
Barrington: I believe the main focus is altering from long-term initiatives to gamers who might help the staff in a yr or two, because the Spurs are transitioning from rebuilding to constructing. Does that imply that you simply go up a man who wants a yr or two to prepare? Most likely not, if the upside is thrilling sufficient. However we gained’t see one other Sidy Cissoko type of choose the place somebody is picked simply because they’ve the measurements of basketball participant. The staff wants gamers who’ve really confirmed that they’re good at basketball. That signifies that they’ll probably draft younger huge at 14 and perhaps even take an older participant with extra faculty expertise with their second-round choose.
Gomez: It’s an fascinating determination, largely due to different elements, particularly that not a variety of groups could have cap area in free company. Underneath regular circumstances, a commerce would appear the wisest possibility to deal with a number of the apparent points the roster presently has. However the mid-level exception could be sufficient to cowl that, which makes holding the picks tempting. If the Spurs assume they’ll get, say, Brook Lopez and Jake LaRavia with their exceptions, utilizing the picks makes a variety of sense. That being mentioned, if there’s a long-term piece that may be had by buying and selling the 14th choose, they need to pull the set off.
Birdsong: With the best way that the dreaded tax aprons now perform, I believe groups ought to at all times be seeking to purchase low-cost expertise each time potential, and that makes the draft extra essential than ever. Except the Spurs can advantageously pry away a cost-controlled expertise (unlikely), they need to completely strategy the draft in a Sam Presti method (who hasn’t actually used picks for trades as of but) and maintain including gamers they like till both their depth is insane, or a future commerce goal involves mild. Phrase was that the Spurs have been very conservative with their conversations/presents concerning Kevin Durant as a result of they have been probably eyeing an even bigger future goal. If that’s the case, the one draft trades I anticipate from the Spurs are the type they pulled off final yr with Minnesota and Rob Dillingham.
Douglas: They’ll fill their wants with their exceptions in free company. Consider Clint Capela as a backup middle or Sam Merrill as a taking pictures wing. Take the gamers at 14. Cedric Coward could be a dream choose together with his taking pictures capacity and defensive upside. It seems like they’ve some curiosity in Thomas Sorber, the large man out of Georgetown who’s an impactful defender and passer with some query marks on the offensive finish. Any of these guys could be an fascinating addition to their growing core. With 38, choose the very best upside man, or greatest shooter yow will discover, and have him break up time between San Antonio and Austin. I like Alex Toohey there as a reputation.
Would you be disillusioned if the Spurs traded the 14th choose for a future first, as they did final season with the eighth choose?
Dubinski: Not likely. I’ll admit I’m not that educated on this yr’s draft pool, so I gained’t be that individual crying, “However they may have had this participant!” into the TV display screen in the event that they find yourself buying and selling it. Additionally, additional draft belongings down the road have at all times confirmed precious, so I belief that the PATFO is aware of what they’re doing. (Wait, does that want to alter to PITFO: Pop IS the Entrance Workplace?)
Barrington: It type of will depend on what they get for the choose. If it’s only a choose swap 7 or 8 years sooner or later, I’d be disillusioned, though I type of perceive why you wouldn’t wish to have extra extremely paid rookies than you might re-sign to a second contract when that comes up in 4 years. An unprotected first from a staff a yr or two sooner or later that’s anticipated to be unhealthy could be fascinating sufficient to take. I believe that turns into a extra engaging possibility if there’s no person that the Spurs have rated excessive on their board out there at 14. I wouldn’t be shocked by a last-minute commerce by the Spurs like they did with the Dillingham choose final yr, relying on who’s out there.
Gomez: Completely not. In reality, that could be the neatest factor they’ll do. In the event that they discover a staff that’s prepared to maneuver an unprotected or flippantly protected future first-rounder that isn’t anticipated to land within the late 20s, the Spurs ought to most likely go for it. Loading up on commerce belongings or picks that will be out there when the roster will get dearer appears like a greater approach to future-proof the staff than including one other rookie.
Birdsong: Contemplating their wants at ahead and backup middle, sure. Notably of concern is how cavalierly the Spurs have handled their dearth of reliable big-man depth, and the way a lot that has affected their protection anytime Wemby isn’t on the court docket. It’s straightforward to neglect that the Spurs haven’t had a top quality backup huge since Jakob Poeltl was backing up LaMarcus Aldridge. That has received to alter, particularly with Wemby’s well being an inexpensive level of concern for now. Then once more, they may take somebody promising within the early 2nd like Rasheer Fleming (who along with being an amazing rebounder and shot-blocker, could be essentially the most versatile huge within the draft relating to taking part in the 4 or the 5), and I might make my peace with that relying what they may get for the 14th choose.
Douglas: Not within the slightest. In reality, I’d encourage it. I’d notably be calling New Orleans to see if I might pry away the Milwaukee Bucks picks they personal. Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be out there this summer season, but when he requests a commerce, the Spurs ought to make certain they’ll present the very best provide. If they’ve a few of Milwaukee’s draft belongings, plus Harper, Fort, and different younger items, they’re clearly the chief to amass the Greek Freak. Perhaps it’s a pipe dream, however fascinated about Wembanyama and Giannis collectively will get me excited!
