Has this ever occurred to you? The San Antonio Spurs have two picks within the high 10 throughout a draft with essentially the most uncertainty since 2013. Everybody has an opinion on who they need to decide, however you aren’t certain who to belief. You endlessly pour by way of spotlight tapes to determine which prospect would look greatest within the Silver and Black, solely to really feel much less certain about who they need to decide than earlier than you began.
Fear not. We’ve assembled a panel of draft consultants who’ve researched for you. They’ve watched the movie, seemed on the knowledge, talked to scouts, and made their draft boards. We requested them what they’d do in the event that they had been within the Spurs entrance workplace, and which prospects Spurs followers ought to look out for on Draft Night time.
Ben Pfeifer, YouTuber and author for Sportskeeda; Tyler Rucker, Co-founder and author for No Ceilings; Bryce Simon, former D1 basketball participant and co-host of the Sport Idea Podcast; Evan Townsend, Spurs draft professional and co-host of the Silver and Black Espresso Hour all sat down to present their takes on the Spurs’ draft.
In the event you had been within the Spurs entrance workplace, would you be drafting the very best gamers out there at 4 and eight, or in search of the very best match subsequent to Victor Wembanyama?
Ben Pfeifer: Although it could be troublesome on this draft, I feel the Spurs ought to transfer down or out. I actually like the concept of maximizing Wembanyama’s rookie contract, and if they’ll get a star out of the fourth or eighth decide, I feel that might be a very good transfer.
Tyler Rucker: As NBA scouts and evaluators at all times wish to say, the draft is at all times about “match.” For a yr that has drawn so many questions on the highest, San Antonio goes to search out themselves ready for worth to fall into their palms. At 4 I’d be swinging for upside. You’re hoping that you just’re not selecting this excessive any time quickly. So in the event you’re going to be up there, you would possibly as effectively “swing” just a little bit. With the eighth decide, San Antonio may look so as to add a bit that may not provide the very best upside, however they may thrive as the next flooring kind of addition, particularly enjoying alongside Wembanyama and the remainder of their items.
Bryce Simon: On this class, you may actually take a look at match. I basically have eight or 9 guys who’re in the identical tier, so you may draft extra for match. San Antonio ought to at all times be in search of extra taking pictures and flooring spacing round Wembanyama. I’d search for that with a type of picks. They ended up with Zaccharie Risacher and Rob Dillingham in a current mock draft I did. These are two guys that may actually shoot the ball.
Evan Townsend: They need to go along with the very best participant out there if a deal can’t be made for a starter-level participant on a good contract who additionally suits their timeline.
Which prospects within the top-10 would you wish to see play alongside Wembanyama?
Rucker: It’s not going to take lengthy for Spurs followers to get excited concerning the thought of Dillingham or Reed Sheppard enjoying alongside “the alien.” Regardless of their questions, I nonetheless imagine each could be improbable items of the puzzle for the Spurs transferring ahead. I nonetheless assume touchdown Nikola Subject could be a improbable get for the Spurs. He’s a gifted playmaker with large really feel at 6’6”. Including some shooters round him, in addition to Wembanyama, could be a harmful mixture of dimension and playmaking upside to construct with transferring ahead.
Simon: Dillingham is a man I’m just a little bit decrease on, however I feel San Antonio is a perfect touchdown spot for him as a result of you may have Wembanyama defending him on the defensive finish. He’s a flooring spacer along with his taking pictures. He can deal with the ball and assault. Everyone is smart subsequent to Wembanyama however Dillingham is the particular prospect that might be nice in San Antonio.
Townsend: if I needed to slender it down, I’d choose in no specific order: Dillingham, Subject, Matas Buzelis, Sheppard, Donovan Clingan and Dalton Knecht. I don’t see the remainder of the sphere thriving as Spurs. Some could be higher off with contenders and others want a system round them with a affected person employees in hopes to get the very best out of them.
Pfeifer: Wembanyama is a type of uncommon gamers that makes everybody a very good match. I nonetheless assume a lead guard is a necessity for them. My foremost precedence for them could be Dillingham. He’s the very best off-ball participant out of these guards. He’s a dynamic creator, he has an unimaginable deal with, and he’s so inventive and instinctual as a scorer. He’s a wise off-ball mover and a terrific motion shooter who can dash off threes. He’s good in any respect this stuff the place you don’t want to present him devoted possessions. Once you play with Wembanyama, who’s going to take up a bunch of offensive possessions – that’s the form of participant you need.
Level guard is an enormous want for San Antonio. Which level guard within the draft do you see as the very best participant long-term?
Simon: I’m just a little bit decrease on Stephon Fort as a real level guard, particularly as your lead guard. Perhaps he’s your second-unit level guard. I feel Sheppard is similar. I don’t see him enjoying as a lot on the ball as your major initiator. In case you are in search of a lead guard, Subject is a major initiator. He has good eye manipulation and might run decide and roll. I feel Dillingham can go, however he’s much less of a major on-ball man.
Townsend: Subject is the one true lead guard out of the top-four guards. He’s a jumbo initiator who performs at a terrific place and has a well-defined sport. He’s a strolling paint contact. Sheppard is a connector and defensive stopper kind of combo-guard that might thrive extra as an off-ball shooter and secondary playmaker. Dillingham is an fascinating case. He’s a Tyrese Maxey/Allen Iverson/Jamal Murray construct. Dillingham is a hybrid guard who’s extra of a real scoring guard who can create for himself higher than others. Fort isn’t a real level guard, both. He’s not a shooter or scoring guard. He’s extra of a defensive-minded secondary playmaker. He’s 6’6 and might guard 1-3. I’m unsure how the Spurs would make the most of him however I imagine he’d thrive of their system very quickly.
Pfeifer: I feel Subject is smart as a man who has unimaginable burst, assuming he’s wholesome. His playmaking is stable as effectively. I really like Isaiah Collier. I view him as a top-three man on this class. His upside mixed with an unimaginable burst, power, benefit creation and playmaking combo might be arduous to go on. I’d be okay taking Sheppard and Fort round 8. They’re lower-ceiling gamers. Sheppard particularly doesn’t have the dimensions, defensive capability, athletic instruments and creation capability to achieve a excessive stage. Fort doesn’t have the creation upside and taking pictures.
Rucker: Level guard is the million-dollar query for the Spurs, little doubt about it. I’m within the camp that the Spurs ought to look to get a “veteran” plug-and-play flooring normal whereas concentrating on some wings on this class. It’s at all times thrilling to attempt to get a star upside level guard, however it’s the most troublesome place to regulate to within the NBA.
If we’re speaking about upside with the draft’s guards, I’m nonetheless a full believer in Fort. He’s acquired the instruments to have one of many highest upsides within the class. Fort was a bucket going again to his highschool days, and took on the problem of taking over a special position at UCONN on account of his need to be a “winner.” Fort got here into the yr as a dynamic offensive-minded guard with multi-level scoring upside and remodeled into one of many high defensive guards within the class. If the shot comes round, which I imagine it is going to, then we’re speaking a couple of dynamic guard with dimension who can impression the sport on each side of the ground.
There are a number of fascinating wings within the high 10. Are there any specifically that stand out as suits with the Spurs?
Townsend: Not many of those wings scream they need to be a Spur. Buzelis is my favourite out of the bunch. He must get stronger. He’s a very good staff defender however isn’t a real lockdown man. He has nice dimension, a stable body, can play a number of positions and is sneaky athletic. His taking pictures kind may use some work, however I can see him changing into a three-level scorer. Risacher must discover ways to create for himself. With out being a risk off the dribble, he would should be a real three-and-D sniper who can defend the opposing staff’s greatest participant. I don’t see that taking place.
Pfeifer: My favourite wing for the Spurs is Ron Holland. It’s not simply because he’s the very best wing within the draft, but in addition due to his unimaginable defensive match with Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. They might supercharge the Spurs defensively. I feel he would work effectively in San Antonio’s transition assault. He can slash off of Wembanyama, whose offensive gravity may create simpler pictures for Holland. He’s a pleasant passer as effectively. Holland might be the very best passer of the wings on this draft. Risacher would work as an off-ball spacing wing, too.
Rucker: A sleeper that I imagine is smart in a number of locations is Knecht. He’s going to have lots pondering he’s only a shooter, however Knecht is an issue offensively. Knecht is harmful with the ball in his palms and operating round for catch-and-shoot alternatives. Tennessee requested Knecht to do something and every little thing offensively. Regardless of being older, Knecht received’t need to be the man on the subsequent stage. Take into consideration how he would do off the ball with the quantity of consideration Wembanyama attracts.
Risacher has been the new title. In the event you’re in search of a possible bucket-getting machine as a wing, Risacher received’t be your cup of tea. However, in the event you’re in search of a prolonged wing with potential, flooring spacing upside and severe defensive consciousness, Risacher may very well be an amazing match. Buzelis and Holland will certainly be within the dialog as effectively sooner or later. I’d regulate Colorado freshman Cody Williams. He was an amazing expertise earlier than coping with some accidents. He’d be the “swing” I’d take if I used to be prepared to be affected person whereas the instruments come collectively.
Simon: Risacher is the very best three-and-D wing within the class. He can defend and has nice size. I notice the taking pictures hasn’t been pretty much as good during the last month however he’s nonetheless just below 40%. His proportion over 50+ video games on the season is a optimistic indicator that he can knock down pictures, particularly as an 18-year-old enjoying in that league.
Then there may be somebody like Knecht. He’s an older prospect. Perhaps you assume he’ll shoot it higher than the opposite wings, however there are defensive considerations. We don’t know if Buzelis can shoot it or not. He didn’t have a very good season taking pictures with the Ignite. Identical factor with Holland. In case you are in search of a three-and-D wing, Risacher is the best choice.
Are there any sleepers that folks aren’t at the moment speaking about for SA?
Simon: I don’t have a selected participant, however I need to throw this on the market. What if the Spurs traded 4 and eight for primary and chosen Alex Sarr to pair with Wembanyama? Good luck scoring on these two sooner or later.
Rucker: It could possibly get just a little loopy this yr with regards to draft projections. There are such a lot of names that have already got extraordinarily vast ranges whenever you ask across the league. I feel Duke’s Jared McCain and Windfall’s Devin Carter may very well be some big-time “sleepers” to remember. McCain may not have the very best upside, however he’s a improbable expertise who merely is aware of make successful performs and might actually shoot it. Devin Carter is a pitbull who’s coming off a terrific week on the mix.
Townsend: Whereas I don’t imagine the Spurs ought to preserve their two second-round picks, there are many potential sleeper picks that might thrive after a small stint in Austin, and will probably discover their method into the rotation by the top of the season. Some names to observe embrace Izan Almansa, Melvin Ajinca, Tyler Kolek and PJ Corridor.
Pfeifer: Tidjane Salaun. He’s a French man who’s an fascinating high-upside goal. In the event that they need to develop somebody like that, he’s a sleeper they may go along with.
