What draft experts think the Spurs should do in the NBA Draft

Has this ever happened to you? The San Antonio Spurs have two picks in the top 10 during a draft with the most uncertainty since 2013. Everyone has an opinion on who they should pick, but you aren’t sure who to trust. You endlessly pour through highlight tapes to figure out which prospect would look best in the Silver and Black, only to feel less sure about who they should pick than before you started.

Worry no longer. We’ve assembled a panel of draft experts who have researched for you. They’ve watched the film, looked at the data, talked to scouts, and made their draft boards. We asked them what they would do if they were in the Spurs front office, and which prospects Spurs fans should look out for on Draft Night.

Ben Pfeifer, YouTuber and writer for Sportskeeda; Tyler Rucker, Co-founder and writer for No Ceilings; Bryce Simon, former D1 basketball player and co-host of the Game Theory Podcast; Evan Townsend, Spurs draft expert and co-host of the Silver and Black Coffee Hour all sat down to give their takes on the Spurs’ draft.

If you were in the Spurs front office, would you be drafting the best players available at 4 and 8, or looking for the best fit next to Victor Wembanyama?

Ben Pfeifer: Though it might be difficult in this draft, I think the Spurs should move down or out. I really like the idea of maximizing Wembanyama’s rookie contract, and if they can get a star out of the fourth or eighth pick, I think that would be a good move.

Tyler Rucker: As NBA scouts and evaluators always like to say, the draft is always about “fit.” For a year that has drawn so many questions about the top, San Antonio is going to find themselves in a position for value to fall into their hands. At four I’d be swinging for upside. You’re hoping that you’re not picking this high any time soon. So if you’re going to be up there, you might as well “swing” a little bit. With the 8th pick, San Antonio could look to add a piece that might not offer the highest upside, but they could thrive as a higher floor type of addition, especially playing alongside Wembanyama and the rest of their pieces.

Bryce Simon: In this class, you can really look at fit. I essentially have eight or nine guys who are in the same tier, so you can draft more for fit. San Antonio should always be looking for more shooting and floor spacing around Wembanyama. I would look for that with one of those picks. They ended up with Zaccharie Risacher and Rob Dillingham in a recent mock draft I did. Those are two guys that can really shoot the ball.

Evan Townsend: They have to go with the best player available if a deal can’t be made for a starter-level player on a fair contract who also fits their timeline.

Which prospects in the top-10 would you like to see play alongside Wembanyama?

Rucker: It’s not going to take long for Spurs fans to get excited about the idea of Dillingham or Reed Sheppard playing alongside “the alien.” Despite their questions, I still believe both would be fantastic pieces of the puzzle for the Spurs moving forward. I still think landing Nikola Topic would be a fantastic get for the Spurs. He’s a gifted playmaker with tremendous feel at 6’6”. Adding some shooters around him, as well as Wembanyama, would be a dangerous combination of size and playmaking upside to build with moving forward.

Simon: Dillingham is a guy I am a little bit lower on, but I think San Antonio is an ideal landing spot for him because you have Wembanyama protecting him on the defensive end. He’s a floor spacer with his shooting. He can handle the ball and attack. Everybody makes sense next to Wembanyama but Dillingham is the specific prospect that would be great in San Antonio.

Townsend: if I had to narrow it down, I’d select in no particular order: Dillingham, Topic, Matas Buzelis, Sheppard, Donovan Clingan and Dalton Knecht. I don’t see the rest of the field thriving as Spurs. Some would be better off with contenders and others need a system around them with a patient staff in hopes to get the best out of them.

Pfeifer: Wembanyama is one of those rare players that makes everyone a good fit. I still think a lead guard is a need for them. My main priority for them would be Dillingham. He’s the best off-ball player out of those guards. He’s a dynamic creator, he has an incredible handle, and he’s so creative and instinctual as a scorer. He’s a smart off-ball mover and a great movement shooter who can sprint off threes. He’s good at all these things where you don’t need to give him dedicated possessions. When you play with Wembanyama, who is going to take up a bunch of offensive possessions – that’s the kind of player you want.

Point guard is a big need for San Antonio. Which point guard in the draft do you see as the best player long-term?

Simon: I’m a little bit lower on Stephon Castle as a true point guard, especially as your lead guard. Maybe he’s your second-unit point guard. I think Sheppard is the same. I don’t see him playing as much on the ball as your primary initiator. If you are looking for a lead guard, Topic is a primary initiator. He has good eye manipulation and can run pick and roll. I think Dillingham can pass, but he’s less of a primary on-ball guy.

Townsend: Topic is the only true lead guard out of the top-four guards. He’s a jumbo initiator who plays at a great place and has a well-defined game. He’s a walking paint touch. Sheppard is a connector and defensive stopper type of combo-guard that would thrive more as an off-ball shooter and secondary playmaker. Dillingham is an interesting case. He’s a Tyrese Maxey/Allen Iverson/Jamal Murray build. Dillingham is a hybrid guard who’s more of a true scoring guard who can create for himself better than others. Castle isn’t a true point guard, either. He’s not a shooter or scoring guard. He’s more of a defensive-minded secondary playmaker. He’s 6’6 and can guard 1-3. I’m not sure how the Spurs would utilize him but I believe he’d thrive in their system in no time.

Pfeifer: I think Topic makes sense as a guy who has incredible burst, assuming he’s healthy. His playmaking is solid as well. I love Isaiah Collier. I view him as a top-three guy in this class. His upside combined with an incredible burst, strength, advantage creation and playmaking combo will be hard to pass on. I would be okay taking Sheppard and Castle around 8. They are lower-ceiling players. Sheppard especially doesn’t have the size, defensive ability, athletic tools and creation ability to reach a high level. Castle doesn’t have the creation upside and shooting.

Rucker: Point guard is the million-dollar question for the Spurs, no doubt about it. I’m in the camp that the Spurs should look to get a “veteran” plug-and-play floor general while targeting some wings in this class. It’s always exciting to try to get a star upside point guard, but it is the most difficult position to adjust to in the NBA.

If we’re talking about upside with the draft’s guards, I’m still a full believer in Castle. He’s got the tools to have one of the highest upsides in the class. Castle was a bucket going back to his high school days, and took on the challenge of taking on a different role at UCONN due to his desire to be a “winner.” Castle came into the year as a dynamic offensive-minded guard with multi-level scoring upside and transformed into one of the top defensive guards in the class. If the shot comes around, which I believe it will, then we are talking about a dynamic guard with size who can impact the game on both sides of the floor.

There are a lot of interesting wings in the top 10. Are there any in particular that stand out as fits with the Spurs?

Townsend: Not many of these wings scream they should be a Spur. Buzelis is my favorite out of the bunch. He needs to get stronger. He’s a good team defender but isn’t a true lockdown guy. He has great size, a solid frame, can play multiple positions and is sneaky athletic. His shooting form could use some work, but I can see him becoming a three-level scorer. Risacher needs to learn how to create for himself. Without being a threat off the dribble, he would need to be a true three-and-D sniper who can defend the opposing team’s best player. I don’t see that happening.

Pfeifer: My favorite wing for the Spurs is Ron Holland. It’s not just because he’s the best wing in the draft, but also because of his incredible defensive fit with Wembanyama and Devin Vassell. They could supercharge the Spurs defensively. I think he would work well in San Antonio’s transition attack. He can slash off of Wembanyama, whose offensive gravity could create easier shots for Holland. He’s a nice passer as well. Holland is probably the best passer of the wings in this draft. Risacher would work as an off-ball spacing wing, too.

Rucker: A sleeper that I believe makes sense in a lot of places is Knecht. He’s going to have plenty thinking he’s just a shooter, but Knecht is a problem offensively. Knecht is dangerous with the ball in his hands and running around for catch-and-shoot opportunities. Tennessee asked Knecht to do anything and everything offensively. Despite being older, Knecht won’t have to be the guy at the next level. Think about how he would do off the ball with the amount of attention Wembanyama draws.

Risacher has been the hot name. If you’re looking for a potential bucket-getting machine as a wing, Risacher won’t be your cup of tea. But, if you’re looking for a lengthy wing with potential, floor spacing upside and serious defensive awareness, Risacher could be a tremendous fit. Buzelis and Holland will surely be in the conversation as well at some point. I’d keep an eye on Colorado freshman Cody Williams. He was a tremendous talent before dealing with some injuries. He’d be the “swing” I’d take if I was willing to be patient while the tools come together.

Simon: Risacher is the best three-and-D wing in the class. He can defend and has great length. I realize the shooting hasn’t been as good over the last month but he’s still just under 40%. His percentage over 50+ games on the season is a positive indicator that he can knock down shots, especially as an 18-year-old playing in that league.

Then there is someone like Knecht. He’s an older prospect. Maybe you think he will shoot it better than the other wings, but there are defensive concerns. We don’t know if Buzelis can shoot it or not. He didn’t have a good season shooting with the Ignite. Same thing with Holland. If you are looking for a three-and-D wing, Risacher is the best option.

Are there any sleepers that people aren’t currently talking about for SA?

Simon: I don’t have a specific player, but I want to throw this out there. What if the Spurs traded four and eight for number one and selected Alex Sarr to pair with Wembanyama? Good luck scoring on those two in the future.

Rucker: It can get a little crazy this year when it comes to draft projections. There are so many names that already have extremely wide ranges when you ask around the league. I think Duke’s Jared McCain and Providence’s Devin Carter could be some big-time “sleepers” to keep in mind. McCain might not have the highest upside, but he’s a fantastic talent who simply knows how to make winning plays and can really shoot it. Devin Carter is a pitbull who is coming off a great week at the combine.

Townsend: While I don’t believe the Spurs should keep their two second-round picks, there are plenty of potential sleeper picks that would thrive after a small stint in Austin, and could potentially find their way into the rotation by the end of the season. Some names to watch include Izan Almansa, Melvin Ajinca, Tyler Kolek and PJ Hall.

Pfeifer: Tidjane Salaun. He’s a French guy who is an interesting high-upside target. If they are looking to develop someone like that, he’s a sleeper they could go with.