timvp
06-25-2008, 03:15 AM
The San Antonio Spurs head into the 2008 NBA Draft armed with three picks. In the first round the Spurs have the 26th overall selection. In the second round, the Spurs have picks number 45 and 57.
After the disappointing loss against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, a few areas of need have become blatantly obvious. First of all, the Spurs definitely need an athletic player on the wing who can score the ball to take some of the burden off of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The Spurs also need a backup point guard who is both offensively capable enough to keep defenses honest and good enough defensively to keep the coaching staff happy.
Two other needs for San Antonio are a young swingman and a young bigman. If Ian Mahinmi is going to be elevated to the regular rotation, replenishing the pipeline with youthful options is vital. As seen with the success of the Boston Celtics this season, a few young pieces around an older core can help in terms of overall athleticism and energy.
In this draft, the Spurs likely won’t be able to find the athletic wing who is ready to come in and be the team’s fourth scorer. However, it’s possible for the Spurs to fill their three other needs in this draft. While the draft doesn’t have a lot of great players, it’s fairly deep – especially at power forward and center.
With three picks, the Spurs could go in a number of different directions. Rumors point to the Spurs looking to move up in the draft to snag a higher rated prospect. Other talk has indicated the Spurs may wish to secure a second pick in the first round.
History, on the other hand, points to the Spurs being much more likely to trade down or trade out of the draft. In the Gregg Popovich era, the Spurs have never traded to move up in the first round. Conversely, the Spurs have many times traded selections for future picks or veteran players.
If the Spurs do keep all three of their picks, expect at least one of the picks to be an international player that the Spurs plan to let stay overseas for at least one season. San Antonio in all likelihood won’t have enough roster spots to carry more than two rookies on next year’s squad.
THE 2007 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
The Cream of the Crop
These are the players who the Spurs would have to trade up to draft. The Spurs reportedly have had discussions about trading up for a pick in the teens. While it’s a longshot that San Antonio is able to trade up, here are the top players in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Beasley is a combo forward who is one of the most natural scorers to enter the NBA in a long time. He should be able to step right in and average 20 points per game. A few teams question his character and dedication, however there is no questioning his scoring ability. ****
Derrick Rose, Memphis
The likely first pick of the draft, Rose is a point guard with a ferocious appetite to win games. He’s a good floor leader who uses his athleticism to break down defense and create shots for himself and others. ****
OJ Mayo, USC
Mayo is another player who a few red flags when it comes to character issues, but he can score as well as any guard in this draft. He’s definitely still a work in progress but he plays hard and has been a top prospect for many years. ****
Kevin Love, UCLA
A multi-talented bigman, Love has arguably the most diverse arsenal in the draft. He’s a capable scorer who can also rebound, pass and be a team leader. His only current weakness is defense, however he has shown a willingness to improve on that end of the court. ***1/2
Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
Bayless is a scoring combo guard who should be able to transition to become a full-time point guard on the NBA level. He’s adept at using his dribble to get to the rim and can also shoot well from the outside – especially off the dribble. ***1/2
Russell Westbrook, UCLA
Defense is where Westbrook can make his immediate impact in the NBA. His offense isn’t as refined as many of the other top guard prospects, but his basketball IQ is high enough that he should be able to play both point guard and shooting guard. ***1/2
Joe Alexander, West Virginia
This draft has a lot of very good athletes but Alexander is in a class by himself. Not only is he freakishly athletic, he’s also aggressive and uses his body well. Since he picked up the game relatively late, he’s still early in his learning curve. ***1/2
Darrell Arthur, Kansas
Arthur is a talented bigman who might also be able to play some small forward in the NBA. A few scouts have questioned his work ethic, yet Arthur intrigues teams with his many skills on the basketball court. ***
Eric Gordon, Indiana
Gordon is an undersized shooting guard who showed flashes of being a dominant scorer while at Indiana. Despite his lack of height, he should be strong enough to survive at shooting guard in the NBA. ***
Danilo Gallinari, Italy
The highest rated European player in the draft, Danilo Gallinari is a big swingman who shows great maturity and skill level for his age. He can shoot but even more impressively, his feel for the game is off the charts. ***
Brook Lopez, Stanford
Lopez is the best bigman scorer in the draft. His touch around the basket is excellent, plus he can also shoot facing the basket. He’s not much of a defensive presence yet but he has the size and strength to improve that area of his game. ***
Robin Lopez, Stanford
The lesser known Lopez twin from Stanford is a defensive specialist. He can rebound, block shots and play good post defense. His offensive game is much less refined than that of his twin brother, however. ***
DJ Augustin, Texas
This Longhorn may be short but he has a chance to become a quality starting point guard in the league. His offense – both in terms of scoring and playmaking – should be solid. The question is whether his defense will be adequate enough. ***
Kosta Koufos, Ohio State
Koufos has very good size for a center and his offense has developed nicely after his one year stint at Ohio State. His overall game isn’t amazingly refined, although he’s getting better at a quick pace. **1/2
Marreese Speights, Florida
Speights is a talented and athletic bigman who could ultimately become one of the best players in the draft. However, questions regarded his work ethic and overall attitude have lowered his stock. **1/2
Anthony Randolph, LSU
Like Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas before him, Randolph is an amazing athlete at the power forward position out of LSU. But also like Swift and Thomas, Randolph’s actual skill level is in question by a number of scouts. **1/2
Alexis Ajinca, France
This year’s workout wonder has been Ajinca. He entered the private workout part of the draft process as a late first round pick. After a number of impressive workouts, Ajinca has moved himself up into the teens. **
The Players in the Mix
These are the players who could be available at 26 and/or 45 for the Spurs. San Antonio may also move up higher a few spots higher in the draft to try to secure the rights to one of these players.
POINT GUARDS
Mario Chalmers, Kansas
Chalmers played a lot of shooting guard in college but he would likely play point guard for the Spurs. Best known for hitting the biggest shot in Kansas’ drive to the national championship, Chalmers actually excels most on the defense end of the court. ***
George Hill, IUPUI
Hill is a small school wonder who has impressed teams during his play in predraft camps and workouts. While at IUPUI, Hill was one of the most efficient offensive players in the nation. Whether he can make the jump from IUPUI to the NBA is the biggest question. **
Mike Taylor, Iowa State
After getting kicked off Iowa State, Taylor went to the D-League and had an impressive season at that level as he helped lead the Idaho Stampede to the title. Taylor is an energetic combo guard who is able to get into the lane. The biggest knock against him is his wildness. **
Goran Dragic, Slovenia
This Slovenian point guard prospect is perhaps the best defensive point guard in the draft. His offense isn’t nearly as advanced but he shows good toughness on both ends of the court. Dragic is currently under contract with Tau Ceramica. **
Jamont Gordon, Mississippi
Gordon is a physical player who is a good enough ballhandler to be a point guard. His strength is his biggest weapon as a player. His lack of an outside jumper is by far his biggest weakness. *1/2
SHOOTING GUARDS
Brandon Rush, Kansas
Rush is one of the most ready players in the draft. He should be able to play in any team’s rotation instantly. The question is whether or not his ceiling is high enough to allow him to become anything more than a role player. ***
Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky
Lee doesn’t have great height and he didn’t play against great competition while in college. That said, Lee can score, defend and is wise beyond his years. He’s another player who has helped himself during the private workout process. **1/2
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis
Even though he’s not a great athlete, isn’t too fast and doesn’t have optimal size, Douglas-Roberts knows how to score the rock. He competes defensively, even if he doesn’t have the tools to become a lockdown defender. **1/2
Kyle Weaver, Washington State
Weaver played point guard, shooting guard and small forward while at Washington State. In the NBA, he should be able to display similar flexibility. Weaver is mainly a defensive player who tends to be selective on offense. **
JR Giddens, New Mexico
Giddens has long been regarded as a major talent. The problem with Giddens is he has gotten in trouble off the court and has had run-ins with coaches. He’s talented but he has to prove he’s a team player. **
Sonny Weems, Arkansas
Weems tested out as arguably the best athlete in the draft. He has blinding speed and can really elevate off the court. Whether he’s good enough at basketball to play in the NBA is the question. **
SMALL FORWARDS
Donte Green, Syracuse
After spending one year at Syracuse, Green jumped to the NBA. While at Syracuse, Green was mostly a three-point shooter. However, he has the athleticism and the size to become an all-around talent who can play multiple positions. **1/2
Nicolas Batum, France
Batum is a highly skilled perimeter player from France. This time last year, Batum was projected to be a top five pick in the draft. In the last year, scouts have soured on him a bit due to his sometimes passive play. Batum also has medical issues that may lower his draft stock. **1/2
Bill Walker, Kansas State
Like Batum, Walker is a player who used to look like a lot for the top of the draft. Numerous knee injuries and an underwhelming stint at Kansas State have lowered his stock. If he can get completely healthy and motivated, Walker still has elite talent. **1/2
Damjan Rudez, Croatia
Outside of Ajinca, Rudez is the international player who has helped himself the most in private workouts. It appeared as if he’d go undrafted but now he should be picked in the top half of the second round. This Croatian youngster can shoot. **
Pat Calathes, St. Joseph's
Calathes has very good height and a good basketball mind. The problem is he lacks athleticism. If he can overcome his substandard athleticism, Calathes could prove to be a second round steal. **
Gary Forbes, Massachusetts
Forbes was regarded as the best player in both predraft camps. Since the Spurs typically put a lot of stock in predraft camps, that makes this Panama native a possible target for San Antonio. *1/2
POWER FORWARD
Richard Hendrix, Alabama
While there are higher rated power forward prospects in this draft, Hendrix is one of the few that should be able to come in and help immediately. He’s strong, a good rebounder and a capable shotblocker. **1/2
Jason Thompson, Rider
Thompson spent four years at Rider and improved each year. Now he is improving his stock to the point that he may move into the top half of the first round. Thompson is athletic and can also step out and hit the open jumper. **1/2
JJ Hickson, NC State
Hickson is a raw bigman talent who spent only one year at NC State. He can rebound and block shots, however his basketball IQ is in question. He may not be ready to help for a season or two. **
Joey Dorsey, Memphis
This fiery Ben Wallace type player is never afraid to put his body on the line in the name of good defense. He’s also not afraid to open his mouth to the media. Dorsey’s defensive abilities should transfer to the NBA quickly. **
DJ White, Indiana
After struggling a lot with injuries, White is healthy. He’s one of the most talented bigmen in the draft but without great size or great athleticism, it may be difficult for him to step it up and survive in the pros. *1/2
Serge Ibaka, Congo
Ibaka is an intriguing prospect from Africa. He’s a great run and jump athlete and has a surprisingly accurate jumper. The problem is he’s at least four years away from producing on the NBA level. *1/2
Nathan Jawai, Australia
Like Ibaka, Jawai is a number of years away from helping an NBA team. He’s a big post player who can get off the ground and finish with authority. Jawai definitely has upside – but that upside is two or three years away from materializing. *1/2
Ryan Anderson, California
Anderson actually has a chance to be a good player. However, the Spurs simply don’t need a player with his skillset. Anderson is a power forward who likes to shoot from the perimeter and isn’t able to do much defensively. *1/2
CENTERS
DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M
Although he may go higher, Jordan’s stock seems to be slipping a bit. Last year, Jordan looked like a future star center. But after a disappointing year in college, this Aggie decided to enter the draft. On raw potential alone, he’s intriguing. **1/2
JaVale McGee, Nevada
McGee is another raw center prospect who will need a few years to grow into his body. The son of professional basketball players, McGee has shown flashes of brilliance. Combine that with his size and athleticism and he has a chance to be very good. **1/2
Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
Once upon a time, Hibbert looked like a future lottery pick. Now the highest Hibbert will likely go is the teens. He’s a solid player who could thrive on a slow-paced team that has good athletes to makeup for his lack of foot speed. **
Ante Tomic, Croatia
A number of teams are enthralled by Tomic and his long-term potential. He’d likely stay in Europe for a couple more seasons but Tomic is extremely talented for his height. He will be picked in the late first or early second. **
DeVon Hardin, California
In terms of size and athleticism, few prospects can match what Hardin brings to the basketball court. The problem is that Hardin hasn’t been able to translate his size and athleticism into production. **
Trent Plaisted, BYU
Plaisted is an athletic bigman out of BYU who likes to run the court. If he had a more extensive offensive repertoire, Plaisted could very well be a first round pick. As it stands, he appears to be headed to the second round. *1/2
Omer Asik, Turkey
Asik is reportedly considering an offer to stay in Turkey and sign a long-term contract. Before that news came to light, many considered Asik a possibility for a late first round pick. Now that became a lot riskier. *1/2
Nikola Pekovic, Serbia
Many scouts consider Pekovic the best young bigman in Europe. However, Pekovic has stated that the NBA isn’t a dream for him and since he can make a healthy living in Europe, he may never cross the pond. *1/2
The Best of the Rest
These are the players who could be available at 57 for the Spurs. At that point in the draft, NBA teams have to take a chance on a flawed prospect. Here are a look at the best of the rest grouped by their flaw.
ONE DIMENSIONAL PLAYERS
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
Mbah a Moute is only a defensive player. His offense is putrid *1/2
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt
Foster can shoot the ball but that’s about it. *1/2
Marcus Dove, Oklahoma State
Dove is a very good defender who can’t do anything else. *1/2
Drew Neitzel, Michigan State
Neitzel is a point guard prospect with a good jumper and not much else. *
Richard Roby, Colorado
Roby is a shooter who has struggled with his shot in recent months. *
UNDERSIZED PLAYERS
Darnell Jackson, Kansas
Jackson doesn’t have good height for a bigman but he gives great effort. **
Josh Duncan, Xavier
The Medium Fundamental is a couple inches short of optimal height. *1/2
Othello Hunter, Ohio State
Hunter is a smallish bigman who is a really good athlete. *1/2
Sean Singletary, Virginia
Singletary is an exciting point guard who lacks size. *1/2
DeMarcus Nelson, Duke
Nelson is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. *
James Gist, Maryland
Gist is a power forward in a small forward’s body. *
Will Daniels, Rhode Island
Like Gist, Daniels is trying to transition small forward. *
Bryce Taylor, Oregon
Taylor likely lacks the height to play shooting guard. *
INTERNATIONAL MEN OF MYSTERY
Mantas Kalnietis, Lithuania
Kalnietis has good size for a point guard but not good speed. *1/2
Anton Ponkrashov, Russia
Ponkrashov can play multiple position but limited athletically. *1/2
Semih Erden, Turkey
Erden can be a hothead but he’s an aggressive player. *1/2
Sasha Kaun, Kansas
Kaun went to Kansas but he’ll be heading to Russia. *
Uros Tripkovic, Serbia
Tripkovic has seen his stock fall in recent years. *
Peja Samardziski, Macedonia
Samardziski is a big who likely goes undrafted *
PLAYERS WITH QUESTION MARKS
Malik Hairston, Oregon
Hairston is extremely talented but has underperformed the last four years. **
Davon Jefferson, UCLA
Jefferson made a mistake in applying for the draft too early. *1/2
Keith Brumbaugh, Hillsborough CC
Brumbaugh has been arrested a number of times but he has ability. *1/2
Walter Sharpe, UAB
Sharpe is a narcoleptic who has seen his name on the police blotter. *
Reggie Williams, VMI
Led the nation in scoring two straight seasons but played in a gimmick offense. *
Joe Crawford, Kentucky
F Joe Crawford. *
THE 2008 NBA MOCK DRAFT
1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose
2. Miami Heat - Michael Beasley
3. Minnesota Timberwolves - OJ Mayo
4. Seattle Supersonics - Russell Westbrook
5. Memphis Grizzlies - Kevin Love
6. New York Knicks - Danilo Gallinari
7. Los Angeles Clippers – Jerryd Bayless
8. Milwaukee Bucks - Eric Gordon
9. Charlotte Bobcats - Brook Lopez
10. New Jersey Nets - Joe Alexander
11. Indiana Pacers - DJ Augustin
12. Sacramento Kings - Darrell Arthur
13. Portland Trail Blazers - Brandon Rush
14. Golden State Warriors - Alexis Ajinca
15. Phoenix Suns - Mario Chalmers
16. Philadelphia 76ers - Marreese Speights
17. Toronto Raptors - Robin Lopez
18. Washington Wizards - Anthony Randolph
19. Cleveland Cavaliers - Kosta Koufos
20. Denver Nuggets - Nicolas Batum
21. New Jersey Nets - DeAndre Jordan
22. Orlando Magic - Courtney Lee
23. Utah Jazz - Donte Green
24. Seattle Supersonics - Serge Ibaka
25. Houston Rockets - Roy Hibbert
26. San Antonio Spurs - Ryan Anderson
27. New Orleans Hornets - Ante Tomic
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Chris Douglas-Roberts
29. Detroit Pistons - Bill Walker
30. Boston Celtics - JaVale McGee
31. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jason Thompson
32. Seattle Supersonics - Damjan Rudez
33. Portland Trail Blazers - Omer Asik
34. Minnesota Timberwolves - DeVon Hardin
35. Los Angeles Clippers - JJ Hickson
36. Portland Trail Blazers - Nikola Pekovic
37. Milwaukee Bucks - DJ White
38. Charlotte Bobcats - Jamont Gordon
39. Chicago Bulls - Richard Hendrix
40. New Jersey Nets - Malik Hairston
41. Indiana Pacers - Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
42. Sacramento Kings - George Hill
43. Sacramento Kings - Shan Foster
44. Utah Jazz - Goran Dragic
45. San Antonio Spurs - Nathan Jawai
46. Seattle Supersonics - Kyle Weaver
47. Washington Wizards - Sonny Weems
48. Phoenix Suns - Joey Dorsey
49. Golden State Warriors - JR Giddens
50. Seattle Supersonics - Mantas Kalnietis
51. Dallas Mavericks - Gary Forbes
52. Miami Heat - Mike Taylor
53. Utah Jazz - Trent Plaisted
54. Houston Rockets - James Gist
55. Portland Trail Blazers - Semih Erden
56. Seattle Supersonics - Anton Ponkrashov
57. San Antonio Spurs - Sasha Kaun
58. Los Angeles Lakers - Pat Calathes
59. Detroit Pistons - Darnell Jackson
60. Boston Celtics - Josh Duncan
THE CRYSTAL BASKETBALL
At 26, the Spurs will draft Mario Chalmers or Courtney Lee if either one is still on the board. If they are off the board, the Spurs will go with a project bigman.
At 45, the Spurs will hope that Nathan Jawai or DeVon Hardin falls. If neither falls, look for the Spurs to pick a point guard (George Hill or Mike Taylor) or trade it.
At 57, the Spurs will try to trade the pick for a future second rounder. If they can’t trade it, they’ll pick a prospect that will stay overseas for a couple of years.
After the disappointing loss against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, a few areas of need have become blatantly obvious. First of all, the Spurs definitely need an athletic player on the wing who can score the ball to take some of the burden off of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The Spurs also need a backup point guard who is both offensively capable enough to keep defenses honest and good enough defensively to keep the coaching staff happy.
Two other needs for San Antonio are a young swingman and a young bigman. If Ian Mahinmi is going to be elevated to the regular rotation, replenishing the pipeline with youthful options is vital. As seen with the success of the Boston Celtics this season, a few young pieces around an older core can help in terms of overall athleticism and energy.
In this draft, the Spurs likely won’t be able to find the athletic wing who is ready to come in and be the team’s fourth scorer. However, it’s possible for the Spurs to fill their three other needs in this draft. While the draft doesn’t have a lot of great players, it’s fairly deep – especially at power forward and center.
With three picks, the Spurs could go in a number of different directions. Rumors point to the Spurs looking to move up in the draft to snag a higher rated prospect. Other talk has indicated the Spurs may wish to secure a second pick in the first round.
History, on the other hand, points to the Spurs being much more likely to trade down or trade out of the draft. In the Gregg Popovich era, the Spurs have never traded to move up in the first round. Conversely, the Spurs have many times traded selections for future picks or veteran players.
If the Spurs do keep all three of their picks, expect at least one of the picks to be an international player that the Spurs plan to let stay overseas for at least one season. San Antonio in all likelihood won’t have enough roster spots to carry more than two rookies on next year’s squad.
THE 2007 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
The Cream of the Crop
These are the players who the Spurs would have to trade up to draft. The Spurs reportedly have had discussions about trading up for a pick in the teens. While it’s a longshot that San Antonio is able to trade up, here are the top players in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Michael Beasley, Kansas State
Beasley is a combo forward who is one of the most natural scorers to enter the NBA in a long time. He should be able to step right in and average 20 points per game. A few teams question his character and dedication, however there is no questioning his scoring ability. ****
Derrick Rose, Memphis
The likely first pick of the draft, Rose is a point guard with a ferocious appetite to win games. He’s a good floor leader who uses his athleticism to break down defense and create shots for himself and others. ****
OJ Mayo, USC
Mayo is another player who a few red flags when it comes to character issues, but he can score as well as any guard in this draft. He’s definitely still a work in progress but he plays hard and has been a top prospect for many years. ****
Kevin Love, UCLA
A multi-talented bigman, Love has arguably the most diverse arsenal in the draft. He’s a capable scorer who can also rebound, pass and be a team leader. His only current weakness is defense, however he has shown a willingness to improve on that end of the court. ***1/2
Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
Bayless is a scoring combo guard who should be able to transition to become a full-time point guard on the NBA level. He’s adept at using his dribble to get to the rim and can also shoot well from the outside – especially off the dribble. ***1/2
Russell Westbrook, UCLA
Defense is where Westbrook can make his immediate impact in the NBA. His offense isn’t as refined as many of the other top guard prospects, but his basketball IQ is high enough that he should be able to play both point guard and shooting guard. ***1/2
Joe Alexander, West Virginia
This draft has a lot of very good athletes but Alexander is in a class by himself. Not only is he freakishly athletic, he’s also aggressive and uses his body well. Since he picked up the game relatively late, he’s still early in his learning curve. ***1/2
Darrell Arthur, Kansas
Arthur is a talented bigman who might also be able to play some small forward in the NBA. A few scouts have questioned his work ethic, yet Arthur intrigues teams with his many skills on the basketball court. ***
Eric Gordon, Indiana
Gordon is an undersized shooting guard who showed flashes of being a dominant scorer while at Indiana. Despite his lack of height, he should be strong enough to survive at shooting guard in the NBA. ***
Danilo Gallinari, Italy
The highest rated European player in the draft, Danilo Gallinari is a big swingman who shows great maturity and skill level for his age. He can shoot but even more impressively, his feel for the game is off the charts. ***
Brook Lopez, Stanford
Lopez is the best bigman scorer in the draft. His touch around the basket is excellent, plus he can also shoot facing the basket. He’s not much of a defensive presence yet but he has the size and strength to improve that area of his game. ***
Robin Lopez, Stanford
The lesser known Lopez twin from Stanford is a defensive specialist. He can rebound, block shots and play good post defense. His offensive game is much less refined than that of his twin brother, however. ***
DJ Augustin, Texas
This Longhorn may be short but he has a chance to become a quality starting point guard in the league. His offense – both in terms of scoring and playmaking – should be solid. The question is whether his defense will be adequate enough. ***
Kosta Koufos, Ohio State
Koufos has very good size for a center and his offense has developed nicely after his one year stint at Ohio State. His overall game isn’t amazingly refined, although he’s getting better at a quick pace. **1/2
Marreese Speights, Florida
Speights is a talented and athletic bigman who could ultimately become one of the best players in the draft. However, questions regarded his work ethic and overall attitude have lowered his stock. **1/2
Anthony Randolph, LSU
Like Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas before him, Randolph is an amazing athlete at the power forward position out of LSU. But also like Swift and Thomas, Randolph’s actual skill level is in question by a number of scouts. **1/2
Alexis Ajinca, France
This year’s workout wonder has been Ajinca. He entered the private workout part of the draft process as a late first round pick. After a number of impressive workouts, Ajinca has moved himself up into the teens. **
The Players in the Mix
These are the players who could be available at 26 and/or 45 for the Spurs. San Antonio may also move up higher a few spots higher in the draft to try to secure the rights to one of these players.
POINT GUARDS
Mario Chalmers, Kansas
Chalmers played a lot of shooting guard in college but he would likely play point guard for the Spurs. Best known for hitting the biggest shot in Kansas’ drive to the national championship, Chalmers actually excels most on the defense end of the court. ***
George Hill, IUPUI
Hill is a small school wonder who has impressed teams during his play in predraft camps and workouts. While at IUPUI, Hill was one of the most efficient offensive players in the nation. Whether he can make the jump from IUPUI to the NBA is the biggest question. **
Mike Taylor, Iowa State
After getting kicked off Iowa State, Taylor went to the D-League and had an impressive season at that level as he helped lead the Idaho Stampede to the title. Taylor is an energetic combo guard who is able to get into the lane. The biggest knock against him is his wildness. **
Goran Dragic, Slovenia
This Slovenian point guard prospect is perhaps the best defensive point guard in the draft. His offense isn’t nearly as advanced but he shows good toughness on both ends of the court. Dragic is currently under contract with Tau Ceramica. **
Jamont Gordon, Mississippi
Gordon is a physical player who is a good enough ballhandler to be a point guard. His strength is his biggest weapon as a player. His lack of an outside jumper is by far his biggest weakness. *1/2
SHOOTING GUARDS
Brandon Rush, Kansas
Rush is one of the most ready players in the draft. He should be able to play in any team’s rotation instantly. The question is whether or not his ceiling is high enough to allow him to become anything more than a role player. ***
Courtney Lee, Western Kentucky
Lee doesn’t have great height and he didn’t play against great competition while in college. That said, Lee can score, defend and is wise beyond his years. He’s another player who has helped himself during the private workout process. **1/2
Chris Douglas-Roberts, Memphis
Even though he’s not a great athlete, isn’t too fast and doesn’t have optimal size, Douglas-Roberts knows how to score the rock. He competes defensively, even if he doesn’t have the tools to become a lockdown defender. **1/2
Kyle Weaver, Washington State
Weaver played point guard, shooting guard and small forward while at Washington State. In the NBA, he should be able to display similar flexibility. Weaver is mainly a defensive player who tends to be selective on offense. **
JR Giddens, New Mexico
Giddens has long been regarded as a major talent. The problem with Giddens is he has gotten in trouble off the court and has had run-ins with coaches. He’s talented but he has to prove he’s a team player. **
Sonny Weems, Arkansas
Weems tested out as arguably the best athlete in the draft. He has blinding speed and can really elevate off the court. Whether he’s good enough at basketball to play in the NBA is the question. **
SMALL FORWARDS
Donte Green, Syracuse
After spending one year at Syracuse, Green jumped to the NBA. While at Syracuse, Green was mostly a three-point shooter. However, he has the athleticism and the size to become an all-around talent who can play multiple positions. **1/2
Nicolas Batum, France
Batum is a highly skilled perimeter player from France. This time last year, Batum was projected to be a top five pick in the draft. In the last year, scouts have soured on him a bit due to his sometimes passive play. Batum also has medical issues that may lower his draft stock. **1/2
Bill Walker, Kansas State
Like Batum, Walker is a player who used to look like a lot for the top of the draft. Numerous knee injuries and an underwhelming stint at Kansas State have lowered his stock. If he can get completely healthy and motivated, Walker still has elite talent. **1/2
Damjan Rudez, Croatia
Outside of Ajinca, Rudez is the international player who has helped himself the most in private workouts. It appeared as if he’d go undrafted but now he should be picked in the top half of the second round. This Croatian youngster can shoot. **
Pat Calathes, St. Joseph's
Calathes has very good height and a good basketball mind. The problem is he lacks athleticism. If he can overcome his substandard athleticism, Calathes could prove to be a second round steal. **
Gary Forbes, Massachusetts
Forbes was regarded as the best player in both predraft camps. Since the Spurs typically put a lot of stock in predraft camps, that makes this Panama native a possible target for San Antonio. *1/2
POWER FORWARD
Richard Hendrix, Alabama
While there are higher rated power forward prospects in this draft, Hendrix is one of the few that should be able to come in and help immediately. He’s strong, a good rebounder and a capable shotblocker. **1/2
Jason Thompson, Rider
Thompson spent four years at Rider and improved each year. Now he is improving his stock to the point that he may move into the top half of the first round. Thompson is athletic and can also step out and hit the open jumper. **1/2
JJ Hickson, NC State
Hickson is a raw bigman talent who spent only one year at NC State. He can rebound and block shots, however his basketball IQ is in question. He may not be ready to help for a season or two. **
Joey Dorsey, Memphis
This fiery Ben Wallace type player is never afraid to put his body on the line in the name of good defense. He’s also not afraid to open his mouth to the media. Dorsey’s defensive abilities should transfer to the NBA quickly. **
DJ White, Indiana
After struggling a lot with injuries, White is healthy. He’s one of the most talented bigmen in the draft but without great size or great athleticism, it may be difficult for him to step it up and survive in the pros. *1/2
Serge Ibaka, Congo
Ibaka is an intriguing prospect from Africa. He’s a great run and jump athlete and has a surprisingly accurate jumper. The problem is he’s at least four years away from producing on the NBA level. *1/2
Nathan Jawai, Australia
Like Ibaka, Jawai is a number of years away from helping an NBA team. He’s a big post player who can get off the ground and finish with authority. Jawai definitely has upside – but that upside is two or three years away from materializing. *1/2
Ryan Anderson, California
Anderson actually has a chance to be a good player. However, the Spurs simply don’t need a player with his skillset. Anderson is a power forward who likes to shoot from the perimeter and isn’t able to do much defensively. *1/2
CENTERS
DeAndre Jordan, Texas A&M
Although he may go higher, Jordan’s stock seems to be slipping a bit. Last year, Jordan looked like a future star center. But after a disappointing year in college, this Aggie decided to enter the draft. On raw potential alone, he’s intriguing. **1/2
JaVale McGee, Nevada
McGee is another raw center prospect who will need a few years to grow into his body. The son of professional basketball players, McGee has shown flashes of brilliance. Combine that with his size and athleticism and he has a chance to be very good. **1/2
Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
Once upon a time, Hibbert looked like a future lottery pick. Now the highest Hibbert will likely go is the teens. He’s a solid player who could thrive on a slow-paced team that has good athletes to makeup for his lack of foot speed. **
Ante Tomic, Croatia
A number of teams are enthralled by Tomic and his long-term potential. He’d likely stay in Europe for a couple more seasons but Tomic is extremely talented for his height. He will be picked in the late first or early second. **
DeVon Hardin, California
In terms of size and athleticism, few prospects can match what Hardin brings to the basketball court. The problem is that Hardin hasn’t been able to translate his size and athleticism into production. **
Trent Plaisted, BYU
Plaisted is an athletic bigman out of BYU who likes to run the court. If he had a more extensive offensive repertoire, Plaisted could very well be a first round pick. As it stands, he appears to be headed to the second round. *1/2
Omer Asik, Turkey
Asik is reportedly considering an offer to stay in Turkey and sign a long-term contract. Before that news came to light, many considered Asik a possibility for a late first round pick. Now that became a lot riskier. *1/2
Nikola Pekovic, Serbia
Many scouts consider Pekovic the best young bigman in Europe. However, Pekovic has stated that the NBA isn’t a dream for him and since he can make a healthy living in Europe, he may never cross the pond. *1/2
The Best of the Rest
These are the players who could be available at 57 for the Spurs. At that point in the draft, NBA teams have to take a chance on a flawed prospect. Here are a look at the best of the rest grouped by their flaw.
ONE DIMENSIONAL PLAYERS
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA
Mbah a Moute is only a defensive player. His offense is putrid *1/2
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt
Foster can shoot the ball but that’s about it. *1/2
Marcus Dove, Oklahoma State
Dove is a very good defender who can’t do anything else. *1/2
Drew Neitzel, Michigan State
Neitzel is a point guard prospect with a good jumper and not much else. *
Richard Roby, Colorado
Roby is a shooter who has struggled with his shot in recent months. *
UNDERSIZED PLAYERS
Darnell Jackson, Kansas
Jackson doesn’t have good height for a bigman but he gives great effort. **
Josh Duncan, Xavier
The Medium Fundamental is a couple inches short of optimal height. *1/2
Othello Hunter, Ohio State
Hunter is a smallish bigman who is a really good athlete. *1/2
Sean Singletary, Virginia
Singletary is an exciting point guard who lacks size. *1/2
DeMarcus Nelson, Duke
Nelson is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. *
James Gist, Maryland
Gist is a power forward in a small forward’s body. *
Will Daniels, Rhode Island
Like Gist, Daniels is trying to transition small forward. *
Bryce Taylor, Oregon
Taylor likely lacks the height to play shooting guard. *
INTERNATIONAL MEN OF MYSTERY
Mantas Kalnietis, Lithuania
Kalnietis has good size for a point guard but not good speed. *1/2
Anton Ponkrashov, Russia
Ponkrashov can play multiple position but limited athletically. *1/2
Semih Erden, Turkey
Erden can be a hothead but he’s an aggressive player. *1/2
Sasha Kaun, Kansas
Kaun went to Kansas but he’ll be heading to Russia. *
Uros Tripkovic, Serbia
Tripkovic has seen his stock fall in recent years. *
Peja Samardziski, Macedonia
Samardziski is a big who likely goes undrafted *
PLAYERS WITH QUESTION MARKS
Malik Hairston, Oregon
Hairston is extremely talented but has underperformed the last four years. **
Davon Jefferson, UCLA
Jefferson made a mistake in applying for the draft too early. *1/2
Keith Brumbaugh, Hillsborough CC
Brumbaugh has been arrested a number of times but he has ability. *1/2
Walter Sharpe, UAB
Sharpe is a narcoleptic who has seen his name on the police blotter. *
Reggie Williams, VMI
Led the nation in scoring two straight seasons but played in a gimmick offense. *
Joe Crawford, Kentucky
F Joe Crawford. *
THE 2008 NBA MOCK DRAFT
1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose
2. Miami Heat - Michael Beasley
3. Minnesota Timberwolves - OJ Mayo
4. Seattle Supersonics - Russell Westbrook
5. Memphis Grizzlies - Kevin Love
6. New York Knicks - Danilo Gallinari
7. Los Angeles Clippers – Jerryd Bayless
8. Milwaukee Bucks - Eric Gordon
9. Charlotte Bobcats - Brook Lopez
10. New Jersey Nets - Joe Alexander
11. Indiana Pacers - DJ Augustin
12. Sacramento Kings - Darrell Arthur
13. Portland Trail Blazers - Brandon Rush
14. Golden State Warriors - Alexis Ajinca
15. Phoenix Suns - Mario Chalmers
16. Philadelphia 76ers - Marreese Speights
17. Toronto Raptors - Robin Lopez
18. Washington Wizards - Anthony Randolph
19. Cleveland Cavaliers - Kosta Koufos
20. Denver Nuggets - Nicolas Batum
21. New Jersey Nets - DeAndre Jordan
22. Orlando Magic - Courtney Lee
23. Utah Jazz - Donte Green
24. Seattle Supersonics - Serge Ibaka
25. Houston Rockets - Roy Hibbert
26. San Antonio Spurs - Ryan Anderson
27. New Orleans Hornets - Ante Tomic
28. Memphis Grizzlies - Chris Douglas-Roberts
29. Detroit Pistons - Bill Walker
30. Boston Celtics - JaVale McGee
31. Minnesota Timberwolves - Jason Thompson
32. Seattle Supersonics - Damjan Rudez
33. Portland Trail Blazers - Omer Asik
34. Minnesota Timberwolves - DeVon Hardin
35. Los Angeles Clippers - JJ Hickson
36. Portland Trail Blazers - Nikola Pekovic
37. Milwaukee Bucks - DJ White
38. Charlotte Bobcats - Jamont Gordon
39. Chicago Bulls - Richard Hendrix
40. New Jersey Nets - Malik Hairston
41. Indiana Pacers - Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
42. Sacramento Kings - George Hill
43. Sacramento Kings - Shan Foster
44. Utah Jazz - Goran Dragic
45. San Antonio Spurs - Nathan Jawai
46. Seattle Supersonics - Kyle Weaver
47. Washington Wizards - Sonny Weems
48. Phoenix Suns - Joey Dorsey
49. Golden State Warriors - JR Giddens
50. Seattle Supersonics - Mantas Kalnietis
51. Dallas Mavericks - Gary Forbes
52. Miami Heat - Mike Taylor
53. Utah Jazz - Trent Plaisted
54. Houston Rockets - James Gist
55. Portland Trail Blazers - Semih Erden
56. Seattle Supersonics - Anton Ponkrashov
57. San Antonio Spurs - Sasha Kaun
58. Los Angeles Lakers - Pat Calathes
59. Detroit Pistons - Darnell Jackson
60. Boston Celtics - Josh Duncan
THE CRYSTAL BASKETBALL
At 26, the Spurs will draft Mario Chalmers or Courtney Lee if either one is still on the board. If they are off the board, the Spurs will go with a project bigman.
At 45, the Spurs will hope that Nathan Jawai or DeVon Hardin falls. If neither falls, look for the Spurs to pick a point guard (George Hill or Mike Taylor) or trade it.
At 57, the Spurs will try to trade the pick for a future second rounder. If they can’t trade it, they’ll pick a prospect that will stay overseas for a couple of years.