Final Spurs Big Board for the 2024 NBA Draft with Latest Intel and Tidbits
Tidjane Salaun could be drafted by the Spurs today (Photo via Twitter)
Draft day has finally arrived! The San Antonio Spurs have the No. 4 and No. 8 picks in the lottery. In the second round, the Spurs have two more selections: No. 35 and No. 48.
The Spurs Big Board is my attempt to rank the prospects in order, beginning with the player San Antonio is most likely to draft.
1. Zaccharie Risacher
I’ve written about my concerns with Risacher quite a bit this draft cycle. Despite his flaws, the Frenchman stays at the top of the list. Some positivity: Risacher is the best bet in this draft to one day be a starter on a championship level team. That’s why he remains at this spot.
2. Alexandre Sarr
If the Spurs trade up to the No. 1 selection, Risacher would be the heavy favorite to be San Antonio’s pick. However, if it’s not Risacher, my next guess would be Sarr. The pairing of Wembanyama and Sarr on the defensive end would be scary for the rest of the league.
3. Reed Sheppard
In a scenario where the top three picks go Risacher, Sarr and Clingan, who do the Spurs pick? Up until yesterday, I thought it’d be Castle. But after hearing some whispers from around the organization in the last 24 hours, I think it’ll be Sheppard. The elite shooting he’d bring to the table would be too difficult to ignore.
4. Stephon Castle
The silence surrounding Castle is unsettling. Ever since he worked out for the Spurs, no source has been willing to go on record to even hint at how he played. Did he do so well that the franchise wants him to fall to No. 4 and instituted a gag order? Did he get embarrassed by Carter so badly that he got scratched from their big board? I just don’t know. Castle is still in the mix from the outside looking in but those question marks caused me to drop him below Sheppard.
5. Tidjane Salaun
Salaun climbed exactly one spot in every iteration of this Spurs Big Board. Multiple individuals in the industry have asked me if I’ve heard about the rumored promise the Spurs have made to Salaun. I haven’t heard about any promise from a Spurs source but the rumor is spreading like wildfire in the draft world. Most believe the Spurs have promised to draft Salaun at No. 8, however I know that one well known draft pundit is considering putting Salaun at No. 4 in his final mock draft due to rumors he has heard.
6. Cody Williams
I continue to hear that a team that is trying to trade up to target Williams is paranoid that the Spurs will pick him at No. 4. It’s to the point now that I wouldn’t be totally shocked if the Spurs end up picking Williams with their first lottery selection. He’s also very likely to be one of the choices the Spurs will ponder at No. 8.
7. Donovan Clingan
After I reported San Antonio’s interest in picking Clingan without working him out in person, that news quickly spread and was confirmed by multiple outlets. Since then, it’s been reiterated to me from high-level Spurs sources that the organization will strongly consider picking Clingan at No. 4 if he’s on the board. Make of that what you will.
8. Rob Dillingham
Look who made a late climb back up the board. Behind the scenes, Dillingham and his representatives have continued to emphasize that the point guard wants to end up in San Antonio. Recently, there have been rumblings that the Spurs are open to making that happen. The Silver and Black could pick him at No. 8 — or even trade back to the end of the lottery and target him there.
9. Devin Carter
Carter’s workout for the Spurs has been described by a staffer as the best workout of any prospect in recent years. Will that workout be enough to convince the Spurs to draft him? We’ll soon find out.
10. Dalton Knecht
The Spurs know they need shooting. Knecht could be the best volume shooter in the draft, especially if you factor in the different ways he can get to his shot. Depending on how the draft plays out, I expect Knecht to be in the mix at No. 8.
11. Nikola Topic
It sounds like the Spurs are going out of their way to finish their scouting report on Topic. They are probably just doing their due diligence, however he’s a good enough prospect to pick at No. 8.
12. Matas Buzelis
It never felt like Buzelis gained any momentum with the Spurs. Perhaps the franchise is just being purposefully quiet about him — but I’m starting to doubt that.
13. Ron Holland
Holland is in the same boat with Buzelis. It feels like he’s not in the mix for the Spurs in the lottery.
14. Ja’Kobe Walter
He has a beautiful stroke. He gets to the free throw line a lot. But Walter’s inefficiency and lack of elite size or athleticism hold him back.
15. Jared McCain
McCain works hard and can really shoot it. His underwhelming length and his lack of point guard skills will likely keep him away from San Antonio.
16. Pacome Dadiet
Dadiet is a tall Frenchman who can shoot it straight. That is probably enough to grab San Antonio’s attention.
17. Bub Carrington
Carrington is an exciting prospect but his fit with Wembanyama would be questionable.
18. Johnny Furphy
An analytics darling, Furphy does a lot of things right even though the total package is not much to write home about.
19. Kyshawn George
George is long, can shoot and passes well. Everything else about him is a work in progress, though.
20. Jaylon Tyson
Tyson had a breakthrough season and his all-around play could attract the Spurs.
21. Baylor Scheierman
Scheierman did well in the combine scrimmages and he’s surprisingly well-rounded for someone who may drop to the second round.
22. Isaiah Collier
Once a top prospect in this draft, Collier now projects to be a backup point guard.
23. Tyler Kolek
Kolek is an old school point guard. His skills should get him picked in the first round.
24. Tristan Da Silva
Da Silva will hope to land with a contender because he’s ready to produce in that environment.
25. Kyle Filipowski
Filipowski is better than advertised at perimeter things. However, he’s not a smooth fit next to Wembanyama.
26. Bobi Klintman
Big, multi-talented wings are rare enough that you can pick one who only produces lightly.
27. Tyler Smith
Smith is tall with a frame that could add muscle. He can also knock down threes. Where he can play defense is a fair question.
28. Zach Edey
Edey with Wembanyama will steal headlines but doesn’t make much basketball sense.
29. Cameron Christie
Christie is a shooting prospect who has a decent-to-good feel for the game.
30. Jamal Shead
Shead is a born leader with strong character reports. We all know the Spurs value players like this.
31. Yves Missi
Missi is a really good shotblocker.
32. DaRon Holmes II
Holmes is a center with definite upside.
33. Ulrich Chomche
He emerged from an NBA academy in Africa. Chomche is extremely raw but would be fun to track in the G League.
34. Kel’el Ware
Ware will be drafted higher than this but the Spurs are unlikely to draft someone with effort-related question marks.
35. Adem Bona
Bona is a great athlete, especially for a big.
36. Ryan Dunn
Dunn might be the best defender in the draft. Unfortunately, his offense appears to be irreparably broken.
37. Terrence Shannon Jr.
After the not guilty verdict, Shannon could enter the mix somewhere in the second round.
38. Melvin Ajinca
Ajinca is a 6-foot-7 Frenchman who makes hard shots look easy.
39. Dillon Jones
Jones is the size of a forward but likes running the show.
40. Enrique Freeman
One of the better stories of the draft, Freeman started at the bottom and worked his way all the way to the point where he could get selected.
41. Kevin McCullar Jr.
When healthy, McCullar was a very good college basketball player.
42. Cam Spencer
Spencer is a really good shooter who competes at a high level.
43. Jonathan Mogbo
Mogbo is an undersized center who has scratched and clawed his way into draft discussions.
44. AJ Johnson
Johnson wasn’t able to show much in Australia but he has impressive flashes.
45. Jaylen Wells
Wells is a very good shooting prospect who stands 6-foot-7.
46. Justin Edwards
Edwards was a star in high school. Can he recapture that glory?
47. Antonio Reeves
Reeves can put points on the board in a hurry once he gets rolling.
48. Trey Alexander
Alexander does a lot of things well and steadily improved in college.
49. Isaiah Crawford
When healthy, Crawford was a long, highly productive forward at Louisiana Tech.
50. Harrison Ingram
Ingram does a little bit of everything.
51. Pelle Larsson
Larsson is a smart player who plays at both ends.
52. Keshad Johnson
Johnson can really defend but needs to shoot it better.
53. Nikola Djurisic
Djurisic is a quality scorer but doesn’t bring much D or feel for the game.
54. Ajay Mitchell
Mitchell played well at the combine and knows how to run a pick-and-roll.
55. Jalen Bridges
Bridges shot well last season but needs to be more active.
56. KJ Simpson
Simpson is short but he plays at 100% effort level — and also has skill to go along with it.
57. PJ Hall
Hall is a powerful big who might shoot it one day.
58. Oso Ighodaro
Bigs like Ighodaro who can pass always have a chance.
59. Bronny James
James actually posted promising stats in high school prior to his heart scare.
60. Juan Nunez
He’s painfully unathletic but Nunez can pass it.