After their most profitable season since 2014, it’s time for the San Antonio Spurs to show their consideration to the following season, starting tonight with the 2026 NBA Draft. Earlier than looking at some mock drafts to see who others assume the Spurs ought to decide, here’s a fast rundown of the picks they personal, in addition to who remains to be on the roster and who is about to turn out to be a free agent.
Barring any trades, the Spurs at the moment have 4 whole picks within the 2026 NBA Draft: one within the first spherical and three within the second.
The primary spherical begins tonight at 7:00 PM CT and might be considered on ESPN and ABC, and the second spherical is tomorrow on the similar time on simply ESPN.
Because the group considers what to do with most of the free brokers that they’ve this summer time, in addition they look towards the draft to assist make these selections clearer.
Being one of many last two groups left standing on the conclusion of the playoffs, San Antonio doesn’t want a drastic rebuild, however extra to fill areas of want, like a real bodily ahead. Somebody who can set onerous screens and defend at an elite degree to alleviate strain off of Victor Wembanyama so he can concentrate on establishing his presence within the low block. San Antonio additionally wants extra constant taking pictures, probably a participant who’s nice in catch-and-shoot conditions. A participant that enables for simpler flooring spacing inside San Antonio’s offensive system and id.
Here’s a breakdown of the draft analysis and the draft targets which the media believes San Antonio might goal with their 4 picks within the 2026 NBA Draft. Should you haven’t already, try Jacob Douglas’s breakdown of potential Spurs targets right here at Pounding the Rock.
Johnthon Mendoza, USA At present
In Mendoza’s NBA mock draft article revealed this morning, with the twentieth decide he believes San Antonio ought to choose Santa Clara College ahead Allen Graves. Mendoza believes that this can be a wise choice for San Antonio as a result of Graves is a scrappy participant that’s snug “doing the soiled work” (defensive blocks, combating for rebounds, and having a excessive motor).
Spherical Two Choose #35 Richie Saunders (BYU) Capturing Guard
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound taking pictures guard who averaged 18 factors and 5.8 rebounds within the 2025-26 season with a 48.9% field-goal share, in accordance with ESPN statistics, looks like he can develop right into a San Antonio-type participant. Saunders has comparable participant traits to a younger Kawhi Leonard. Additionally, Saunders can do some little bit of all the things so far as scoring contained in the paint from watching a number of the highlights by way of YouTube. One factor to notice is that Saunders, who was awarded Most Improved Participant this previous season, suffered an ACL tear in his proper knee. Hopefully, this harm doesn’t hinder any ahead progress he’s making if he would, in actual fact, be chosen by San Antonio.
Spherical Two Choose #42 Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA Ahead
In Mendoza’s breakdown, he sees Tyler Bilodeau because the clear choice at No. 42 of the second spherical. Bilodeau ranked No. 12 amongst all Large Ten Convention gamers in scoring, averaging 17.6 factors per recreation this previous collegiate season. He shot 51.8% from the sphere and led the Bruins in three-point share, in accordance with his participant profile on UCLA’s web site. Bilodeau shot 87.3% on the free-throw line. That is good as a result of San Antonio missed many free throws within the Finals. Bilodeau could possibly be one other viable low-post risk asset, offering a set off the bench for San Antonio. He has nice contact inside and finds teammates with ease throughout kick-outs to the perimeter.
Spherical Two Choose #44 Jack Kayil, Germany Level Guard
Mendoza believes with the final decide, San Antonio ought to choose 6-foot-3 German guard Jack Kayil. This previous season, Kayil performed for Alba Berlin, a staff that is part of the Basketball Champions League, averaging 11.9 factors and 4.1 rebounds per recreation. He is without doubt one of the youngest gamers to win the Bundesliga Greatest Younger Participant Award. Based on NBA.com, he received a U19 title in 2023 and took residence the Most Helpful Participant Award. Kayil makes use of his body to simply shift his defender and draw contact when given a driving lane to the basket. He reveals fast instincts, selecting up defensive reads and making the most effective accessible go or play, equally to a really younger Manu Ginóbili.
Derek Parker, Sports activities Illustrated
In Parker’s YouTube video launched yesterday along with his prime 40 huge board draft pitch, he has some fascinating takes on who San Antonio ought to choose with the twentieth decide and the thirty fifth decide of this 12 months’s draft.
Spherical One Choose #20 — Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s College)
Throughout his analysis of the choice, Parker factors out Ejiofor main St. John’s in factors, rebounds, and assists (16.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.5 APG). Parker makes it clear that Ejiofor is barely undersized for an enormous however has different expertise that make him stand out from the remainder of the gamers in his class, citing his size, motor, defensive means, shot-blocking, and contact across the rim within the low submit. Parker views Ejiofor’s function as a bench huge or a low-end starter, explaining that his taking pictures is the one factor holding him again from being in an NBA-caliber beginning lineup. Ejiofor could also be an fascinating alternative for San Antonio because the staff struggled to seek out enough matchups with New York Knicks ahead OG Anunoby.
Spherical Two Choose #35 Isaiah Evans (Duke College)
Parker didn’t give a lot evaluation on most of the second-round picks talked about within the latter a part of his video. The 6-foot-6, 185-pound guard was Duke’s second-leading scorer this previous season with 15.0 factors per recreation whereas taking pictures 43.3% from the sphere. After footage, Evans has a little bit of a Dwyane Wade taking part in model, making chopping and slashing to the rim his main expertise whereas having a singular means to attract fouls. Evans possesses a easy jumper that’s dependable. His means to run the ground and poke the ball away from his defender, producing steals on the defensive finish of the ground, jogs my memory of Brandon Ingram, positively from a measurement standpoint. If chosen by San Antonio, he could also be a worthwhile piece amongst a stacked roster.
Spherical One Choose #20 Koa Peat (Ahead, Arizona)
The 6-foot-8, 245-pound ahead averaged 14.1 factors per recreation and 5.6 rebounds in his freshman season, in accordance with ESPN, whereas additionally taking pictures 35.0% from the three-point line. Peat’s explosiveness is what stands out. He can positively be a lob risk at any given second, powering down dunk after dunk in addition to combating for steals and popping out on the successful finish of 50-50 ball battles.
Spherical Two Choose #35 Alex Karaban (Ahead, UConn)
The 6-foot-7, 225-pound senior for the College of Connecticut averaged 13.2 factors and 5.3 rebounds this previous season. Fox believes Karaban can discover success with the Spurs group similar to Julian Champagnie. Based on Fox in his analysis, Karaban, “Few prospects enter the league with a clearer understanding of methods to influence successful.” He views the choice at No. 35 as low danger for San Antonio.
Spherical Two Choose #42 Tarris Reed Jr., Middle (UConn)
The 6-foot-10, 260-pound middle averaged 14.7 factors per recreation.
Reed Jr. is a low-post specialist that may seize rebounds and put again photographs with ease. He’s an enormous physique with nimble footwork who depends on the basics to get him simple buckets.
Spherical Two Choose #44 Richie Saunders (BYU) Capturing Guard
For the second time on this breakdown, Saunders is believed to be the clear decide at No. 44. Having a participant that may do some little bit of all the things and is a robust shooter can positively play to San Antonio’s profit.
Because the NBA Draft attracts nearer on Tuesday night time, it is going to be fascinating to see how the San Antonio entrance workplace bolsters an already sturdy roster and is ready to add just a few gamers that may hopefully permit them to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy sooner or later.
