timvp
06-22-2010, 07:37 PM
The San Antonio Spurs enter the 2010 NBA Draft armed with the 20th pick in the first round. While that doesn't sound like a whole lot, the Spurs have only once selected higher in the last 18 years -- and that pick back in 1997 wasn't so bad. San Antonio also has the 49th overall pick in the draft.
Currently, the Spurs have an uncharacteristically high number of question marks circling around the team. Can the Spurs coax Tiago Splitter to come to San Antonio this summer? Do the trade rumors surrounding Tony Parker have legs? Will ownership want to cut costs? Most importantly, is the championship window still open?
This draft likely won't provide clear answers to any of the lingering questions, however the state of the Spurs heading into the 2010-11 season should begin to become clearer after Thursday's proceedings.
TEAM NEEDS
Outside Shooting
While the Spurs were definitely a flawed team last year in many categories, their primary weakness ended up being a lack of trustworthy shooters. Typically, the front office has surrounded Tim Duncan with shooters to spread the court. Last season, the Spurs simply didn't have the shooting to sufficiently open up space for the offense to flow smoothly -- especially come playoff time.
Size
Next to Duncan, the Spurs are tiny up front. DeJuan Blair is talented but he's always going to be short. A year older, Antonio McDyess will play even smaller. If Matt Bonner is re-signed, he only compounds the issue. The good news is the signing of Splitter would go a long ways toward eliminating this weakness.
Perimeter Defense
The loss of Bruce Bowen was predictably painful. Going forward, the Spurs need to find a perimeter defender who can take on the top scorers in the league. Preferably, said player would have the size and quickness to defend shooting guards and small forwards.
Flexibility
The Spurs usually have been able to matchup against any type of lineup thrown their way. That wasn't the case last season. The team tended to struggle against teams when faced with excessive length or excessive quickness. Finding players that can play multiple possessions and handle various styles of play would really help.
DRAFT STRATEGY
Reports indicate that the Spurs are actively trying to move up in the draft while supposedly using Tony Parker and George Hill as bait. Although it's possible the Spurs may make such a move, I highly doubt anything of the sort takes place. Trading Parker and remaining a championship caliber team would be difficult and Hill is a valuable piece of the puzzle who is worth more to the Spurs than other teams.
If the Spurs trade up, I believe it would be a smaller trade that would move the Spurs to the 10-to-15 range. However, even that is unlikely since the Spurs have never moved up in the first round in the Gregg Popovich Era. Most likely the Spurs will either stay put or trade out of the draft.
Even though the Spurs are drafting higher than normal, I expect the front office to use their typical strategy. In the first round, that means targeting two or three players and hoping that one of the players drops to their spot. In the second round, the Spurs usually like to draft-and-stash unless a first round talent freefalls into their lap.
All in all, I expect a relatively quiet night for the Spurs. A small trade may take place but I'd be shocked if anything drastic went down.
THE 2009 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS
Key
**** - A great fit on the Spurs
*** - A very good fit for the Spurs
** - A decent fit for the Spurs
* - A bad fit for the Spurs
Cream of the Crop
These players are likely out of range for San Antonio.
John Wall, Kentucky ****
Wall is a Derrick Rose-esque player who will go No. 1 to the Wizards.
Evan Turner, Ohio State ****
The Sixers will take Turner at two. Has been compared to Brandon Roy.
Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech ****
Interestingly, the Spurs went out of their way to interview Favors at the pre-draft camp. However, unless the Spurs trade into the top three, there's no way they land him.
Wesley Johnson, Syracuse ***1/2
This lanky and talented small forward is destined to go in the top four.
DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky ***1/2
If it weren't for questions about his character and work ethic, Cousins would be a lock for the top three.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest ***
Aminu is a high-ceiling small forward who is almost a lock for the top ten.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown ***
The best passing bigman in the draft, Monroe has a good basketball IQ and should be able to help right away.
Ed Davis, North Carolina ***
A report surfaced that the Spurs were looking to get into the top ten to draft Davis. He's a quality power forward project but I doubt he'd be San Antonio's target if they move up in the draft. He doesn’t represent enough of a need -- unless Splitter is a lost cause.
Shooting Wing
It would be great if the Spurs could add a shooter in the draft. Unfortunately, this draft is extremely light in this category.
Xavier Henry, Kansas ***
This 19-year-old appears to be on his way to becoming a great shooter. He has good size for a swingman and should be able to get a lot stronger. The bad is it would take a shocking tumble for him to land at 20.
James Anderson, Oklahoma State **1/2
There's no doubt Anderson can score the ball. He can catch-and-shoot and also finish at the rim. However, he is below average is most every other aspect of the game.
Jordan Crawford, Xavier **1/2
Crawford is never bashful when it comes to shooting. He has good range that should easily translate to the NBA three-point line. The questions with Crawford revolve around his maturity and his tendency to be selfish.
Jon Scheyer, Duke **
If the Spurs want a shooter in the second round, Scheyer could be their man. He can knock down the three and is also an underrated distributor. Scheyer's challenge would be proving he can hit shots against NBA athleticism. Defense is also a concern.
Andy Rautins, Syracuse *1/2
Rautins is much like Scheyer except he isn't quite the ballhandler or passer. But with the Spurs so desperate for shooting, they could do worse than taking a flyer on him in the second round.
Project Big
The strength of this draft is the many project bigs that are available. It's very possible that the Spurs can select a project power forward or center with the plan of letting him develop for a couple years in Austin.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky ***
Although Patterson is unlikely to drop to 20, he'd be a good investment if he did. He's an athletic power forward with a solid jumper who can use some work refining his post moves.
Daniel Orton, Kentucky **1/2
An extremely raw prospect, Orton averaged only three points and three rebounds last year with Kentucky. That said, his size and physicality make him a legit center prospect. Two years on the Toros would do him a world of good.
Hassan Whiteside, Marshall **
If the Spurs want to roll the dice on a project, Whiteside offers a very high ceiling. He's a long seven-footer with good athleticism and timing. But not only is his game still raw, he has a number of red flags. By most accounts he is immature and will struggle to adapt to pro lifestyle.
Solomon Alabi, Florida State **
Though he's coming off of a disappointing sophomore season, Alabi is 7-foot-1 and has untapped potential. That alone should get him picked in the first round. The native of Nigeria is said to be a hard worker with good character.
Larry Sanders, VCU **
Has good length and athleticism but is extremely raw on both ends. Playing at VCU makes it difficult to figure out how far away he is from contributing.
Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech **
He's been on the NBA radar for a while now but still has a lot to learn. Doesn't seem to understand spacing offensively or where to be defensively. On the other hand, his tools make him an intriguing project.
Ryan Richards, England *1/2
This London born seven-footer can run and jump. The rest of his game is far behind. He'll need at least two years of seasoning before he could help a contender.
Stretch Four
In today's NBA, every team needs a stretch four. Matt Bonner has been that player the last few seasons for the Spurs. With Bonner a free agent and proving to be an unreliable playoff performer, San Antonio could very well be in the market for a replacement. It's too bad that this draft literally doesn't have one legit stretch four. Instead, there is a group of flawed players who may be able to fit the bill.
Gordon Hayward, Butler ***
On most teams, Hayward would be a small forward. On the Spurs, they'd likely use him as a stretch four. Right now he's too light to play power forward but his skillset is almost perfect for the stretch four role.
Luke Babbitt, Nevada ***
Babbitt and Hayward are similar. Babbitt is more of a shooter and scorer while Hayward has a well-rounded game. Like Hayward, Babbitt is built more like a small forward. But even if he can't play the stretch four role, Babbitt's shooting ability may be enough to lure the Spurs.
Damion James, Texas **1/2
James is a classic 3/4 tweener. He doesn't have a very good feel for the game but his ability to rebound and knock down perimeter shots makes him a stretch four candidate.
Stanley Robinson, Connecticut **
Another 3/4 tweener, Robinson can shoot from the outside and is quite mobile for his size. He tends to run hot and cold, which isn't the type of attribute you want to see on the college level. He could possibly slip to 49.
Craig Brackins, Iowa State **
Brackins would have been a first rounder if he had stayed in the draft last year. Though he’s coming off of a down season, he can play in the post and hit from the outside. Can he shoot from the NBA three-point line? Is he quick enough to defend mobile power forwards? Those are legit question marks.
Tiny Gallon, Oklahoma **
Gallon has the size and shooting ability to be a stretch four. The problem is he probably isn't quick enough. He carries around a lot of bulk and doesn't run or jump too well. Character is also an issue.
Charles Garcia, Seattle *1/2
A good athlete who is comfortable inside the paint and on the perimeter, Garcia has shown the needed tools to be a stretch four -- but not against quality competition. His past has caused some teams to red flag him.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame *1/2
Produced well on the college level but it's difficult to imagine his style of play translating to the NBA stage. He'll need to add a consistent three-point shot to his repertoire to make it. Otherwise, his lack of size and athleticism gives him little chance.
Defensive Role Player
For the Spurs to win championship number five, a return of the traditional stingy defense is a must. These players should be able to quickly help the defense improve.
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor ***
Udoh made a name for himself in the tournament with his outstanding play on both ends. In the NBA, he'd be a better than average defender right away. He can rebound, block shots and defend out on the perimeter. It'd take a miracle for him to drop to 20.
Cole Aldrich, Kansas ***
Though not an exciting prospect, Aldrich should be able to become a good defender rather quickly. He has good size, good strength, good hands and good timing. The knock on him is his limited potential.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia **1/2
This tall, long-armed small forward has everything needed to be a very good defender. He can also rebound the basketball. His flaw? He can't shoot.
Quincy Pondexter, Washington **1/2
The 22-year-old Pondexter is already a quality perimeter defender. His motor combined with his athleticism could allow him to become elite. Like Ebanks, a shaky outside shot is hurting his draft stock. Pondexter's age is another negative.
Jarvis Vernado, Mississippi **1/2
In the last three seasons, Vernado has averaged at least 4.6 blocks per game. Those stats alone can turn heads. But Vernado has to answer questions regarding his hands and whether or not he plays hard at all times.
Trevor Booker, Clemson **
Despite lacking some size, Booker is a bigman who defends the post well, has active hands and battles on the boards. That said, being a 6-foot-8 power forward will cause him to slide.
Brian Zoubek, Duke *1/2
Until the second half of his senior season, Zoubek had a very quiet career at Duke. At 7-foot-1, he can defend the post and rebound. That might be enough to carve out a career as a backup center in the NBA.
Perimeter Playmaker
Even though the Spurs will always run through the Big 3, an addition bench player who can make things happen in the halfcourt offense would come in handy.
Paul George, Fresno State ***1/2
A workout warrior, George has scouts comparing him to Tracy McGrady due to his all-around ability. His stock continues to rise and he is now likely to go in the lottery.
Elli0t Williams, Memphis ***
Williams uses his quicks to get to the basket and draw a lot of fouls. He can also knock down outside shots at a decent rate. Interestingly enough, Williams worked out with the Spurs first and then stopped workouts and skipped the pre-draft camp. Did the Spurs make him a promise at 20?
Dominique Jones, South Florida **1/2
Jones uses his strength to battle his way into the paint and get to the rim. Sees the floor well and can rebound. Problems? Lack of competition, lack of a consistent jumper and questionable shot selection.
Darington Hobson, New Mexico **1/2
At 6-foot-7, can play 1, 2 and 3 but will make his living as a 3. Doesn't have a money jumper but can rebound, pass and use his length to defend. Main issue against him is his age (23 at the start of the season).
Terrico White, Mississippi **
He's somewhat soft and isn't great at any aspect of the game but White does a lot of things well. At 6-foot-5, he can play multiple positions and has a nice feel for the game.
Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati *1/2
A prolific scorer on the high school level, Stephenson was regarded as a ball hog at Cincinnati. That said, he's very good at scoring 15-feet and in from the guard position. If he matures, he could regain his footing as a top prospect.
Point Guard Depth
If the Spurs trade Parker or Hill, another point guard on the roster will be needed. Even if no trade is made, the Spurs could decide to use Hill as more of a shooting guard than a point guard.
Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky **1/2
He played next to John Wall so didn't get to show off his point guard skills very often. When he was recruited, he was considered a pass-first point guard. Bledsoe should be able to use his long arms to become a good defender on the next level.
Avery Bradley, Texas **1/2
Bradley will be able to score and defend. The question is whether he can play the point guard position. At Texas, Bradley looked like an undersized shooting guard. He'll be drafted in the middle of the first round based on his high ceiling.
Greivis Vasquez, Maryland **1/2
Had an excellent career at Maryland and being a 6-foot-6 point guard could elevate his stock into the first round. Vazquez plays with a lot of emotion and gives great effort. However, his lack of shooting ability and athleticism are two definite question marks.
Armon Johnson, Nevada **
He's getting better as a distributor but Johnson remains a score-first point guard. He has good length that he uses to defend and rebound. Johnson isn't much of a shooter at this point of his career.
Willie Warren, Oklahoma **
Coming into this season, Warren was viewed as a future lottery pick. But after a subpar sophomore campaign, he likely has fallen into the second round. He's a big, talented point guard but he struggles to make plays for others and his shooting got worse last year.
Mikhail Torrance, Alabama **
Torrance had a good senior season at Alabama but was invisible his first three years. He's a 6-foot-5 point guard who can pass and get to the rim. On the downside, his jumper is shaky and some scouts wonder if his senior season was a fluke.
Draft-and-Stash
Spurs fans know all about the ol' draft-and-stash. With roster spots at a premium, the Spurs could very well go this route again -- especially in the second round.
Kevin Seraphin, French Guyana **1/2
Though he's raw and far from a finished product, Seraphin has the build and athleticism to become an exciting NBA bigman down the road. In other words, he's just like another French prospect: Ian Mahinmi.
Tibor Pleiss, Germany **1/2
Pleiss is the rare seven-foot European prospect whose specialty is defense. He can block shots, rebound and his offensive game is coming around. Chances are he'd stay at least two years overseas before making the jump to the NBA.
Miroslav Raduljica, Serbia **1/2
After skipping workouts and angering many NBA scouts, Raduljica has seen his stock drop. That said, the 7-foot-1 center is skilled enough that a team will roll the dice on him at some point in the second round -- even though he may never want to come to the U.S.
Alexey Shved, Russia **1/2
Shved is a 6-foot-7 athlete who can play several positions. He can also shoot and handle the ball. The questions with Shved are regarding his strength, defense and when he'd be willing to come to the NBA.
Thomas Heurtel, France **
Heurtel decided to put his name in the draft after taking home the MVP honors at the Euro draft camp. He's a 6-foot-2 point guard with good all-around skills but he doesn't have a major strength and will likely struggle on the defensive end.
Nemanja Bjelica, Serbia **
A 6-foot-10 small forward, Bjelica can handle the ball and he makes smart reads. He's not much of an athlete and isn't a knock-down shooters -- two traits that make him a second round project.
Paulao Prestes, Brazil *1/2
He's big. He's strong. He's physical. But at this point, Prestes isn't much of a basketball player.
BEST OF THE REST
DaSean Butler ** - Great college career but a torn ACL destroyed his stock.
Sylven Landesberg ** - An underrated scoring threat who could thrive as a pro.
Lazar Hayward - ** Long small forward who can do a bit of everything.
Dexter Pittman ** - The talent is there but weight issues cloud his potential.
Dwayne Collins ** - Extremely long. Great athlete. A bit short in talent.
Tyren Johnson *1/2 - Could be a stretch four prospect but needs seasoning.
Derrick Caracter *1/2 - If Caracter had character, he could be a lottery pick.
Jeremy Lin *1/2 - Out of Harvard, Lin is quick and can score but is a tweener.
Ryan Wittman *1/2 - Out of Cornell, Wittman can shoot but lacks athleticism.
Omar Samhan *1/2 - A bigman with a legit post game but he's not an athlete.
Latavious Williams *1/2 - A project small forward with quality natural tools.
Jerome Jordan *1/2 - Another in an endless supply of project bigs in this draft.
Manny Harris * - A talented 6-foot-5 guard who lacks any type of jumper.
Sherron Collins * - Being overweight and a point guard usually doesn't mix.
Samardo Samuels * - High school stud who never reached potential in college.
Art Parakhouski * - Bigman from Belarus who played at Radford. Needs work.
Jerome Randle * - He's 5-foot-10 and more of a scorer than a playmaker.
Matt Bouldin * - A 6-foot-5 PG who can pass and shoot but can't play D.
Mac Koshwal * - A project big who can rebound but doesn't block shots.
THE 2010 NBA MOCK DRAFT
1. Washington Wizards - John Wall
2. Philadelphia 76ers - Evan Turner
3. New Jersey Nets - Wesley Johnson
4. Minnesota Timberwolves - Derrick Favors
5. Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins
6. Golden State Warriors - Paul George
7. Detroit Pistons - Greg Monroe
8. Los Angeles Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu
9. Utah Jazz - Gordon Hayward
10. Indiana Pacers - Ed Davis
11. New Orleans Hornets - Cole Aldrich
12. Memphis Grizzlies - Luke Babbitt
13. Toronto Raptors - Avery Bradley
14. Houston Rockets - Ekpe Udoh
15. Milwaukee Bucks - Patrick Patterson
16. Minnesota Timberwolves - Xavier Henry
17. Chicago Bulls - James Anderson
18. Miami Heat - Damion Jones
19. Boston Celtics - Solomon Alabi
20. San Antonio Spurs - Elli0t Williams
21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Daniel Orton
22. Portland Trail Blazers - Kevin Seraphin
23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tibor Pleiss
24. Atlanta Hawks - Larry Sanders
25. Memphis Grizzlies - Eric Bledsoe
26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Craig Brackins
27. New Jersey Nets - Jordan Crawford
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Hassan Whiteside
29. Orlando Magic - Dominique Jones
30. Washington Wizards - Quincy Pondexter
31. New Jersey Nets - Greivis Vasquez
32. Oklahoma City Thunder - Miroslav Raduljica
33. Sacramento Kings - Jarvis Varnado
34. Portland Trail Blazers - Ryan Richards
35. Washington Wizards - Trevor Booker
36. Detroit Pistons - Armon Johnson
37. Milwaukee Bucks - Darington Hobson
38. New York Knicks - Mikhail Torrance
39. New York Knicks - Lance Stephenson
40. Indiana Pacers - Willie Warren
41. Miami Heat - Samardo Samuels
42. Miami Heat - Gani Lawal
43. Los Angeles Lakers - Jerome Randle
44. Golden State Warriors - Terrico White
45. Minnesota Timberwolves - Nemanja Bjelica
46. Phoenix Suns - Derrick Caracter
47. Milwaukee Bucks - Tiny Gallon
48. Miami Heat - Stanley Robinson
49. San Antonio Spurs - Alexey Shved
50. Dallas Mavericks - Dwayne Collins
51. Oklahoma City Thunder - Thomas Heurtel
52. Boston Celtics - DaSean Butler
53. Atlanta Hawks - Brian Zoubek
54. Los Angeles Clippers - Lazar Hayward
55. Utah Jazz - Dexter Pittman
56. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jerome Jordan
57. Indiana Pacers - Luke Harangody
58. Los Angeles Lakers - Jon Scheyer
59. Orlando Magic - Sylven Landesberg
60. Phoenix Suns - Paulao Prestes
THE CRYSTAL BASKETBALL
I think the Spurs will end up keeping both of their draft picks. With the 20th pick, I wouldn't be surprised if they had something tricky up their sleeve. Hiding Williams would definitely be considered tricky. The Spurs would love for a player like Babbitt or Henry to slip. Other possibilities are a project big like Orton, a defensive player like Pondexter or a versatile player like Vasquez.
At 49, I see the Spurs either drafting a project big or draft-and-stash prospect. Since this draft is teeming with project bigs, they should be able to get an interesting prospect at 49 if they go that route. Otherwise, a draft-and-stash like Shved or Raduljica makes sense.
Currently, the Spurs have an uncharacteristically high number of question marks circling around the team. Can the Spurs coax Tiago Splitter to come to San Antonio this summer? Do the trade rumors surrounding Tony Parker have legs? Will ownership want to cut costs? Most importantly, is the championship window still open?
This draft likely won't provide clear answers to any of the lingering questions, however the state of the Spurs heading into the 2010-11 season should begin to become clearer after Thursday's proceedings.
TEAM NEEDS
Outside Shooting
While the Spurs were definitely a flawed team last year in many categories, their primary weakness ended up being a lack of trustworthy shooters. Typically, the front office has surrounded Tim Duncan with shooters to spread the court. Last season, the Spurs simply didn't have the shooting to sufficiently open up space for the offense to flow smoothly -- especially come playoff time.
Size
Next to Duncan, the Spurs are tiny up front. DeJuan Blair is talented but he's always going to be short. A year older, Antonio McDyess will play even smaller. If Matt Bonner is re-signed, he only compounds the issue. The good news is the signing of Splitter would go a long ways toward eliminating this weakness.
Perimeter Defense
The loss of Bruce Bowen was predictably painful. Going forward, the Spurs need to find a perimeter defender who can take on the top scorers in the league. Preferably, said player would have the size and quickness to defend shooting guards and small forwards.
Flexibility
The Spurs usually have been able to matchup against any type of lineup thrown their way. That wasn't the case last season. The team tended to struggle against teams when faced with excessive length or excessive quickness. Finding players that can play multiple possessions and handle various styles of play would really help.
DRAFT STRATEGY
Reports indicate that the Spurs are actively trying to move up in the draft while supposedly using Tony Parker and George Hill as bait. Although it's possible the Spurs may make such a move, I highly doubt anything of the sort takes place. Trading Parker and remaining a championship caliber team would be difficult and Hill is a valuable piece of the puzzle who is worth more to the Spurs than other teams.
If the Spurs trade up, I believe it would be a smaller trade that would move the Spurs to the 10-to-15 range. However, even that is unlikely since the Spurs have never moved up in the first round in the Gregg Popovich Era. Most likely the Spurs will either stay put or trade out of the draft.
Even though the Spurs are drafting higher than normal, I expect the front office to use their typical strategy. In the first round, that means targeting two or three players and hoping that one of the players drops to their spot. In the second round, the Spurs usually like to draft-and-stash unless a first round talent freefalls into their lap.
All in all, I expect a relatively quiet night for the Spurs. A small trade may take place but I'd be shocked if anything drastic went down.
THE 2009 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS
Key
**** - A great fit on the Spurs
*** - A very good fit for the Spurs
** - A decent fit for the Spurs
* - A bad fit for the Spurs
Cream of the Crop
These players are likely out of range for San Antonio.
John Wall, Kentucky ****
Wall is a Derrick Rose-esque player who will go No. 1 to the Wizards.
Evan Turner, Ohio State ****
The Sixers will take Turner at two. Has been compared to Brandon Roy.
Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech ****
Interestingly, the Spurs went out of their way to interview Favors at the pre-draft camp. However, unless the Spurs trade into the top three, there's no way they land him.
Wesley Johnson, Syracuse ***1/2
This lanky and talented small forward is destined to go in the top four.
DeMarcus Cousins, Kentucky ***1/2
If it weren't for questions about his character and work ethic, Cousins would be a lock for the top three.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Wake Forest ***
Aminu is a high-ceiling small forward who is almost a lock for the top ten.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown ***
The best passing bigman in the draft, Monroe has a good basketball IQ and should be able to help right away.
Ed Davis, North Carolina ***
A report surfaced that the Spurs were looking to get into the top ten to draft Davis. He's a quality power forward project but I doubt he'd be San Antonio's target if they move up in the draft. He doesn’t represent enough of a need -- unless Splitter is a lost cause.
Shooting Wing
It would be great if the Spurs could add a shooter in the draft. Unfortunately, this draft is extremely light in this category.
Xavier Henry, Kansas ***
This 19-year-old appears to be on his way to becoming a great shooter. He has good size for a swingman and should be able to get a lot stronger. The bad is it would take a shocking tumble for him to land at 20.
James Anderson, Oklahoma State **1/2
There's no doubt Anderson can score the ball. He can catch-and-shoot and also finish at the rim. However, he is below average is most every other aspect of the game.
Jordan Crawford, Xavier **1/2
Crawford is never bashful when it comes to shooting. He has good range that should easily translate to the NBA three-point line. The questions with Crawford revolve around his maturity and his tendency to be selfish.
Jon Scheyer, Duke **
If the Spurs want a shooter in the second round, Scheyer could be their man. He can knock down the three and is also an underrated distributor. Scheyer's challenge would be proving he can hit shots against NBA athleticism. Defense is also a concern.
Andy Rautins, Syracuse *1/2
Rautins is much like Scheyer except he isn't quite the ballhandler or passer. But with the Spurs so desperate for shooting, they could do worse than taking a flyer on him in the second round.
Project Big
The strength of this draft is the many project bigs that are available. It's very possible that the Spurs can select a project power forward or center with the plan of letting him develop for a couple years in Austin.
Patrick Patterson, Kentucky ***
Although Patterson is unlikely to drop to 20, he'd be a good investment if he did. He's an athletic power forward with a solid jumper who can use some work refining his post moves.
Daniel Orton, Kentucky **1/2
An extremely raw prospect, Orton averaged only three points and three rebounds last year with Kentucky. That said, his size and physicality make him a legit center prospect. Two years on the Toros would do him a world of good.
Hassan Whiteside, Marshall **
If the Spurs want to roll the dice on a project, Whiteside offers a very high ceiling. He's a long seven-footer with good athleticism and timing. But not only is his game still raw, he has a number of red flags. By most accounts he is immature and will struggle to adapt to pro lifestyle.
Solomon Alabi, Florida State **
Though he's coming off of a disappointing sophomore season, Alabi is 7-foot-1 and has untapped potential. That alone should get him picked in the first round. The native of Nigeria is said to be a hard worker with good character.
Larry Sanders, VCU **
Has good length and athleticism but is extremely raw on both ends. Playing at VCU makes it difficult to figure out how far away he is from contributing.
Gani Lawal, Georgia Tech **
He's been on the NBA radar for a while now but still has a lot to learn. Doesn't seem to understand spacing offensively or where to be defensively. On the other hand, his tools make him an intriguing project.
Ryan Richards, England *1/2
This London born seven-footer can run and jump. The rest of his game is far behind. He'll need at least two years of seasoning before he could help a contender.
Stretch Four
In today's NBA, every team needs a stretch four. Matt Bonner has been that player the last few seasons for the Spurs. With Bonner a free agent and proving to be an unreliable playoff performer, San Antonio could very well be in the market for a replacement. It's too bad that this draft literally doesn't have one legit stretch four. Instead, there is a group of flawed players who may be able to fit the bill.
Gordon Hayward, Butler ***
On most teams, Hayward would be a small forward. On the Spurs, they'd likely use him as a stretch four. Right now he's too light to play power forward but his skillset is almost perfect for the stretch four role.
Luke Babbitt, Nevada ***
Babbitt and Hayward are similar. Babbitt is more of a shooter and scorer while Hayward has a well-rounded game. Like Hayward, Babbitt is built more like a small forward. But even if he can't play the stretch four role, Babbitt's shooting ability may be enough to lure the Spurs.
Damion James, Texas **1/2
James is a classic 3/4 tweener. He doesn't have a very good feel for the game but his ability to rebound and knock down perimeter shots makes him a stretch four candidate.
Stanley Robinson, Connecticut **
Another 3/4 tweener, Robinson can shoot from the outside and is quite mobile for his size. He tends to run hot and cold, which isn't the type of attribute you want to see on the college level. He could possibly slip to 49.
Craig Brackins, Iowa State **
Brackins would have been a first rounder if he had stayed in the draft last year. Though he’s coming off of a down season, he can play in the post and hit from the outside. Can he shoot from the NBA three-point line? Is he quick enough to defend mobile power forwards? Those are legit question marks.
Tiny Gallon, Oklahoma **
Gallon has the size and shooting ability to be a stretch four. The problem is he probably isn't quick enough. He carries around a lot of bulk and doesn't run or jump too well. Character is also an issue.
Charles Garcia, Seattle *1/2
A good athlete who is comfortable inside the paint and on the perimeter, Garcia has shown the needed tools to be a stretch four -- but not against quality competition. His past has caused some teams to red flag him.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame *1/2
Produced well on the college level but it's difficult to imagine his style of play translating to the NBA stage. He'll need to add a consistent three-point shot to his repertoire to make it. Otherwise, his lack of size and athleticism gives him little chance.
Defensive Role Player
For the Spurs to win championship number five, a return of the traditional stingy defense is a must. These players should be able to quickly help the defense improve.
Ekpe Udoh, Baylor ***
Udoh made a name for himself in the tournament with his outstanding play on both ends. In the NBA, he'd be a better than average defender right away. He can rebound, block shots and defend out on the perimeter. It'd take a miracle for him to drop to 20.
Cole Aldrich, Kansas ***
Though not an exciting prospect, Aldrich should be able to become a good defender rather quickly. He has good size, good strength, good hands and good timing. The knock on him is his limited potential.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia **1/2
This tall, long-armed small forward has everything needed to be a very good defender. He can also rebound the basketball. His flaw? He can't shoot.
Quincy Pondexter, Washington **1/2
The 22-year-old Pondexter is already a quality perimeter defender. His motor combined with his athleticism could allow him to become elite. Like Ebanks, a shaky outside shot is hurting his draft stock. Pondexter's age is another negative.
Jarvis Vernado, Mississippi **1/2
In the last three seasons, Vernado has averaged at least 4.6 blocks per game. Those stats alone can turn heads. But Vernado has to answer questions regarding his hands and whether or not he plays hard at all times.
Trevor Booker, Clemson **
Despite lacking some size, Booker is a bigman who defends the post well, has active hands and battles on the boards. That said, being a 6-foot-8 power forward will cause him to slide.
Brian Zoubek, Duke *1/2
Until the second half of his senior season, Zoubek had a very quiet career at Duke. At 7-foot-1, he can defend the post and rebound. That might be enough to carve out a career as a backup center in the NBA.
Perimeter Playmaker
Even though the Spurs will always run through the Big 3, an addition bench player who can make things happen in the halfcourt offense would come in handy.
Paul George, Fresno State ***1/2
A workout warrior, George has scouts comparing him to Tracy McGrady due to his all-around ability. His stock continues to rise and he is now likely to go in the lottery.
Elli0t Williams, Memphis ***
Williams uses his quicks to get to the basket and draw a lot of fouls. He can also knock down outside shots at a decent rate. Interestingly enough, Williams worked out with the Spurs first and then stopped workouts and skipped the pre-draft camp. Did the Spurs make him a promise at 20?
Dominique Jones, South Florida **1/2
Jones uses his strength to battle his way into the paint and get to the rim. Sees the floor well and can rebound. Problems? Lack of competition, lack of a consistent jumper and questionable shot selection.
Darington Hobson, New Mexico **1/2
At 6-foot-7, can play 1, 2 and 3 but will make his living as a 3. Doesn't have a money jumper but can rebound, pass and use his length to defend. Main issue against him is his age (23 at the start of the season).
Terrico White, Mississippi **
He's somewhat soft and isn't great at any aspect of the game but White does a lot of things well. At 6-foot-5, he can play multiple positions and has a nice feel for the game.
Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati *1/2
A prolific scorer on the high school level, Stephenson was regarded as a ball hog at Cincinnati. That said, he's very good at scoring 15-feet and in from the guard position. If he matures, he could regain his footing as a top prospect.
Point Guard Depth
If the Spurs trade Parker or Hill, another point guard on the roster will be needed. Even if no trade is made, the Spurs could decide to use Hill as more of a shooting guard than a point guard.
Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky **1/2
He played next to John Wall so didn't get to show off his point guard skills very often. When he was recruited, he was considered a pass-first point guard. Bledsoe should be able to use his long arms to become a good defender on the next level.
Avery Bradley, Texas **1/2
Bradley will be able to score and defend. The question is whether he can play the point guard position. At Texas, Bradley looked like an undersized shooting guard. He'll be drafted in the middle of the first round based on his high ceiling.
Greivis Vasquez, Maryland **1/2
Had an excellent career at Maryland and being a 6-foot-6 point guard could elevate his stock into the first round. Vazquez plays with a lot of emotion and gives great effort. However, his lack of shooting ability and athleticism are two definite question marks.
Armon Johnson, Nevada **
He's getting better as a distributor but Johnson remains a score-first point guard. He has good length that he uses to defend and rebound. Johnson isn't much of a shooter at this point of his career.
Willie Warren, Oklahoma **
Coming into this season, Warren was viewed as a future lottery pick. But after a subpar sophomore campaign, he likely has fallen into the second round. He's a big, talented point guard but he struggles to make plays for others and his shooting got worse last year.
Mikhail Torrance, Alabama **
Torrance had a good senior season at Alabama but was invisible his first three years. He's a 6-foot-5 point guard who can pass and get to the rim. On the downside, his jumper is shaky and some scouts wonder if his senior season was a fluke.
Draft-and-Stash
Spurs fans know all about the ol' draft-and-stash. With roster spots at a premium, the Spurs could very well go this route again -- especially in the second round.
Kevin Seraphin, French Guyana **1/2
Though he's raw and far from a finished product, Seraphin has the build and athleticism to become an exciting NBA bigman down the road. In other words, he's just like another French prospect: Ian Mahinmi.
Tibor Pleiss, Germany **1/2
Pleiss is the rare seven-foot European prospect whose specialty is defense. He can block shots, rebound and his offensive game is coming around. Chances are he'd stay at least two years overseas before making the jump to the NBA.
Miroslav Raduljica, Serbia **1/2
After skipping workouts and angering many NBA scouts, Raduljica has seen his stock drop. That said, the 7-foot-1 center is skilled enough that a team will roll the dice on him at some point in the second round -- even though he may never want to come to the U.S.
Alexey Shved, Russia **1/2
Shved is a 6-foot-7 athlete who can play several positions. He can also shoot and handle the ball. The questions with Shved are regarding his strength, defense and when he'd be willing to come to the NBA.
Thomas Heurtel, France **
Heurtel decided to put his name in the draft after taking home the MVP honors at the Euro draft camp. He's a 6-foot-2 point guard with good all-around skills but he doesn't have a major strength and will likely struggle on the defensive end.
Nemanja Bjelica, Serbia **
A 6-foot-10 small forward, Bjelica can handle the ball and he makes smart reads. He's not much of an athlete and isn't a knock-down shooters -- two traits that make him a second round project.
Paulao Prestes, Brazil *1/2
He's big. He's strong. He's physical. But at this point, Prestes isn't much of a basketball player.
BEST OF THE REST
DaSean Butler ** - Great college career but a torn ACL destroyed his stock.
Sylven Landesberg ** - An underrated scoring threat who could thrive as a pro.
Lazar Hayward - ** Long small forward who can do a bit of everything.
Dexter Pittman ** - The talent is there but weight issues cloud his potential.
Dwayne Collins ** - Extremely long. Great athlete. A bit short in talent.
Tyren Johnson *1/2 - Could be a stretch four prospect but needs seasoning.
Derrick Caracter *1/2 - If Caracter had character, he could be a lottery pick.
Jeremy Lin *1/2 - Out of Harvard, Lin is quick and can score but is a tweener.
Ryan Wittman *1/2 - Out of Cornell, Wittman can shoot but lacks athleticism.
Omar Samhan *1/2 - A bigman with a legit post game but he's not an athlete.
Latavious Williams *1/2 - A project small forward with quality natural tools.
Jerome Jordan *1/2 - Another in an endless supply of project bigs in this draft.
Manny Harris * - A talented 6-foot-5 guard who lacks any type of jumper.
Sherron Collins * - Being overweight and a point guard usually doesn't mix.
Samardo Samuels * - High school stud who never reached potential in college.
Art Parakhouski * - Bigman from Belarus who played at Radford. Needs work.
Jerome Randle * - He's 5-foot-10 and more of a scorer than a playmaker.
Matt Bouldin * - A 6-foot-5 PG who can pass and shoot but can't play D.
Mac Koshwal * - A project big who can rebound but doesn't block shots.
THE 2010 NBA MOCK DRAFT
1. Washington Wizards - John Wall
2. Philadelphia 76ers - Evan Turner
3. New Jersey Nets - Wesley Johnson
4. Minnesota Timberwolves - Derrick Favors
5. Sacramento Kings - DeMarcus Cousins
6. Golden State Warriors - Paul George
7. Detroit Pistons - Greg Monroe
8. Los Angeles Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu
9. Utah Jazz - Gordon Hayward
10. Indiana Pacers - Ed Davis
11. New Orleans Hornets - Cole Aldrich
12. Memphis Grizzlies - Luke Babbitt
13. Toronto Raptors - Avery Bradley
14. Houston Rockets - Ekpe Udoh
15. Milwaukee Bucks - Patrick Patterson
16. Minnesota Timberwolves - Xavier Henry
17. Chicago Bulls - James Anderson
18. Miami Heat - Damion Jones
19. Boston Celtics - Solomon Alabi
20. San Antonio Spurs - Elli0t Williams
21. Oklahoma City Thunder - Daniel Orton
22. Portland Trail Blazers - Kevin Seraphin
23. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tibor Pleiss
24. Atlanta Hawks - Larry Sanders
25. Memphis Grizzlies - Eric Bledsoe
26. Oklahoma City Thunder - Craig Brackins
27. New Jersey Nets - Jordan Crawford
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Hassan Whiteside
29. Orlando Magic - Dominique Jones
30. Washington Wizards - Quincy Pondexter
31. New Jersey Nets - Greivis Vasquez
32. Oklahoma City Thunder - Miroslav Raduljica
33. Sacramento Kings - Jarvis Varnado
34. Portland Trail Blazers - Ryan Richards
35. Washington Wizards - Trevor Booker
36. Detroit Pistons - Armon Johnson
37. Milwaukee Bucks - Darington Hobson
38. New York Knicks - Mikhail Torrance
39. New York Knicks - Lance Stephenson
40. Indiana Pacers - Willie Warren
41. Miami Heat - Samardo Samuels
42. Miami Heat - Gani Lawal
43. Los Angeles Lakers - Jerome Randle
44. Golden State Warriors - Terrico White
45. Minnesota Timberwolves - Nemanja Bjelica
46. Phoenix Suns - Derrick Caracter
47. Milwaukee Bucks - Tiny Gallon
48. Miami Heat - Stanley Robinson
49. San Antonio Spurs - Alexey Shved
50. Dallas Mavericks - Dwayne Collins
51. Oklahoma City Thunder - Thomas Heurtel
52. Boston Celtics - DaSean Butler
53. Atlanta Hawks - Brian Zoubek
54. Los Angeles Clippers - Lazar Hayward
55. Utah Jazz - Dexter Pittman
56. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jerome Jordan
57. Indiana Pacers - Luke Harangody
58. Los Angeles Lakers - Jon Scheyer
59. Orlando Magic - Sylven Landesberg
60. Phoenix Suns - Paulao Prestes
THE CRYSTAL BASKETBALL
I think the Spurs will end up keeping both of their draft picks. With the 20th pick, I wouldn't be surprised if they had something tricky up their sleeve. Hiding Williams would definitely be considered tricky. The Spurs would love for a player like Babbitt or Henry to slip. Other possibilities are a project big like Orton, a defensive player like Pondexter or a versatile player like Vasquez.
At 49, I see the Spurs either drafting a project big or draft-and-stash prospect. Since this draft is teeming with project bigs, they should be able to get an interesting prospect at 49 if they go that route. Otherwise, a draft-and-stash like Shved or Raduljica makes sense.