The draft is up to us and the Spurs have been linked with many possibilities. Many of them, such as Patrick Williams or Saddick B, are small ahead, indicating that the team is considering filling in the gap left by the departure of Kavi Leonard on a permanent basis.
At the same time, San Antonio has also shown interest in some lead guards, who could potentially be available to them with the 11th pick, despite plenty of depth in the backcourt.
Should the Spurs go for the best player available regardless of the situation, or draft for need and forward and maybe even centers?
Marilyn Dubinski: You can’t argue about being available for the best player, especially as a re-build team in the lottery, but I don’t mind seeing them trying to address the area of need, in a draft that is relatively deep in the quality front. (Plus, the emotional side of me, all the young guards succeed and want to see, if they do, it’s impossible to keep them all financially, but that’s another day’s issue.))
Mark Barrington: The best player will always be available. They need the Big, but the real difference in the NBA is the producers wings that are versatile on offense and fast enough to make defensive plays. If the team gets overloaded in the backcourt, they can trade one of their guards for someone of size. Is Boban available?
Bruno Passos: I certainly don’t think they should go out of their way to add to their cluttered backcourt, but I’m also of the opinion that their group shouldn’t stop chasing them for better talent. If they get a chance at Killian Hayes or Isaac Okoro at 11 a.m., I think they should take them, as they could turn out to be the best player on the team in just a few years.
Jesus Gomez: It’s really based on the difference in talent and ceiling between this fantasy guard and the front or center. In general I prefer to think about prospects in terms of level rather than general ranking. If two players are at the same level, I hope the Spurs come forward. If there is a guard available that is a layer above all the clearly available wings, they should go for the guard.
The best case scenario is that they somehow get two picks at the top of the draft, presumably by trading with one or both of their old stars and getting two chances. In that case – and provided they could get one from Tyrese Haliburton or Killian Hayes – it might be really good to get a guard for the Spurs who project to be a better shot creator than DeJont Murray.
JR Wilco: The first two words that come to mind when I think of this question are: Sam Bowie. Of course, the traditional wisdom on the 2020 NBA draft is that it is not full of pay generation talent, so the PATFO is unlikely to risk missing out on this year’s Michael-Jordan. So I don’t think they will have much of an opportunity to focus on passing on the brain talent that shines on the face, because they want to draft for the need.
Which means it can be fit, fit perfectly, and nothing but fit so help God. And considering that it was hard enough for Pop to find time to play for the guards he already has, I really can’t wait to keep the guard rotation in another small fill. With Thanksgiving so close, I’m thinking of asking a forward’s early Christmas attendant who won’t have to play in Austin’s first year in the league.
