timvp's Eleventh Annual Spurs NBA Draft Cheat Sheet

Armed with only the 59th pick, the San Antonio Spurs don't appear likely to make much noise during the 2012 NBA Draft. However, following last year's surprising trade for Kawhi Leonard on draft night, it's difficult to figure out what the front office has planned for Thursday night.

If the Spurs want to trade up in the draft, they have assets to shop. Tiago Splitter should have first round value if the Spurs want to deal him. DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal are both relatively proven players on cheap deals who could sweeten a potential trade.

Then again, when the Spurs traded away their first round pick in the deal that brought back Stephen Jackson, that could have been a sign they weren't enamored with this draft. If that's the case, San Antonio may opt to simply wait for their selection at 59 or trade out of the draft entirely.

TEAM NEEDS

Backup Point Guard
After TJ Ford was forced to retire, Gary Neal was given the task of being the team's backup point guard. While the effort was there, the results weren't. Neal proved to be too poor of a ball-handler and passer. Defensively, he was horrific. While the Spurs can use an upgrade at this spot on their roster, unfortunately this draft is weak at point guard.

Versatile Bigman
Boris Diaw is a free agent. Potential European import Erazem Lorbek isn't a sure bet to join the team. Matt Bonner has been missing since some point in late March. Splitter and Blair are talented but limited. Today's Spurs function much better with a versatile bigman next to Tim Duncan who can shoot, pass and otherwise thrive outside of the paint. If the Spurs could find such a player in the draft, that could make the rest of the summer easier and less costly.

Perimeter Athlete
When the Spurs were taken down by the Thunder, the difference in athleticism on the perimeter was impossible to ignore. While Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green (if he's re-signed) are a good start, the Spurs probably need a couple other perimeter athletes who can defend and get out and run.

Interior Defender
When Tim Duncan went to the bench -- especially during the playoffs -- San Antonio's defense drastically deteriorated. Acquiring a bigman who can anchor the defense when Duncan isn't on the court would make this team much better. If that bigman can also play next to Duncan, that would be an added bonus.

DRAFT STRATEGY

Last year, the Spurs went the extra mile to keep their draft plans under wraps. When the Spurs traded for Leonard, nobody even knew they were interested in him. In fact, San Antonio never worked him out or interviewed him.

This year, the Spurs have been silent in the days leading up to the draft. They haven't been in any trade rumors and reports of players coming to San Antonio to work out have been few and far between. Links between the Spurs and any first round prospects have been practically non-existent. Draft night will let us know whether the Spurs have gone even further when it comes to obfuscating their true intentions or if they truly aren't interested in this year's proceedings.

THE 2012 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 to be drafted in the first half of the first round.

Anthony Davis, Kentucky ****
By far the best player in the draft. The Spurs have no chance of landing this defensive stud.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky ****
Although he struggles shooting from the perimeter, MKG does virtually everything else well.

Thomas Robinson, Kansas ****
A rugged bigman who will be ready to contribute on Day 1.

Bradley Beal, Florida ***1/2
Beal is a prototypical shooting guard with a sweet shooting stroke.

Harrison Barnes, North Carolina ***1/2
Talented with an NBA body, Barnes didn't quite live up to the hype at North Carolina.

Andre Drummond, Connecticut ***
The ultimate enigma in this draft. He'll either be very good or a gigantic bust.

Damian Lillard, Weber State ***
An explosive guard with a high ceiling.

Dion Waiters, Syracuse ***
Aggressive natural scorer with a very good feel for the game.

John Henson, North Carolina ***1/2
Long, lean defender who plays hard but needs to add weight.

Austin Rivers, Duke ***
Confident scorer who is never afraid but his accuracy is questionable.

Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut ***
A smooth player with quality instincts but lacks elite skill.

Terrence Ross, Washington ***
Good shooter with an athletic frame.

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina ***
Seven-footer who isn't an exciting prospect but he should be solid for a long time.

Meyers Leonard, Illinois ***
Another seven-footer who is more substance than style.


Other First Rounders
For the Spurs to draft one of these players, they'd likely have to trade up into the first round.

Perry Jones, Baylor ***
Extremely talented but his passiveness can make him disappear.

Moe Harkless, St. John's ***
A long small forward with a lot of athleticism and natural skill.

Terrence Jones, Kentucky ***
A very rangy player who impacts the game all over the court.

Kendall Marshall, North Carolina ***
Probably the truest point guard in the entire draft.

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State **1/2
A potential back injury has Sullinger's stock plummeting.

Arnett Moultrie, Mississippe St. ***
A quick bigman who can get up and down the court.

Royce White, Iowa State **
Very talented but has numerous red flags including a fear of flying.

Fab Melo, Syracuse **1/2
A big Brazilian shotblocker who doesn't do much else well right now.

Quincy Miller, Baylor **1/2
Has a ton of potential but injury woes and rawness have him sliding.

Andrew Nicholson, St. Bonaventure ***
Small school bigman from Canada who played great ball at the end of the season.

Tony Wroten, Jr., Washington **1/2
Wroten can be reckless but his ability is undeniable.

Marquis Teague, Kentucky **1/2
Lightning quick and can pass but his scoring is a question mark.

Draymond Green, Michigan State **1/2
Smart and has a history of winning but he's small for a bigman.

Jeff Taylor, Vanderbilt **1/2
Can't create but he's an athlete who can shoot and defend.

Will Barton, Memphis **1/2
Physically weak but he scores and plays hard.


Second Round Point Guards
Point guards who could be had in the second round.

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas **1/2
Questionable character but a good athlete who can defend.

Scott Machado, Iona **1/2
Not much of an athlete but might be draft's best passer.

Tu Holloway, Xavier **
Lacks point guard skills but can defend and finish at the rim.

J'Covan Brown, Texas *
Only positive is he's from Port Arthur, Texas.

Casper Ware, Long Beach State *1/2
Quick but not a true point guard and he's tiny.

Terrell Stoglin, Maryland *1/2
He can score but doesn't make plays for others.

Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin *

Maalik Wayns, Villanova *


Second Round Swingmen
Swingmen who could be had in the second round.

Kim English, Missouri **
Very good shooter but that's about the extent of his value.

John Jenkins, Vanderbilt **
See above.

Jared Cunningham, Oregon State **1/2
Good athlete with elite quickness but may be too small.

Orlando Johnson, UC-Santa Barbara **
Can shoot and score but his basketball IQ is questionable.

Doron Lamb, Kentucky **
Silky smooth and can score but he's small and weak.

Kevin Murphy, Tennessee Tech *1/2
Very good shooter but could struggle against NBA athletes.

Darius Miller, Kentucky *1/2
Can knock down open jumpers but D is a question mark.

Robbie Hummel, Purdue *1/2
Two serious knee injuries have really hurt his stock.

Jae Crowder, Marquette **
Short and thick but his strength and motor are weapons.

Chris Johnson, Dayton **
A shooter with good size but his body needs work.

Quincy Acy, Baylor *1/2
Great athlete who plays hard but lacks skill.

Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette *1/2
Small but he scores and defends.

Hollis Thompson, Georgetown *1/2
Good size. Good stroke. Doesn't bring it consistently.

John Shurna, Northwestern *1/2
Long and can really shoot but has low release point.

Khris Middleton, Texas A&M *

William Buford, Ohio State *

Kris Joseph, Syracuse *

Marcus Denmon, Missouri *

Alex Young, IUPUI *

Tony Mitchell, Alabama *


Second Round Bigmen
Bigmen who could be had in the second round.

Bernard James, Florida State **
Quality shotblocker and rebounder but he's 27.

Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State *1/2
Strong rebounder who can score but poor basketball IQ.

Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt *1/2
A long seven-footer who can block shots but does he know how to play?

Miles Plumlee, Duke *1/2
Graded out as an amazing athlete but his production has underwhelmed.

Mike Scott, Virginia *1/2
A bit small and a year older but solid all-around game.

Justin Hamilton, LSU *1/2
He's working out well but his college stats were average.

Henry Sims, Georgetown *1/2
A seven-footer who is definitely a project but might be a late bloomer.

Drew Gordon, New Mexico *1/2
He can really rebound ... but that's about it.

Kevin Jones, West Virginia *1/2
Short and not a very good athlete but he's versatile for a big.

Cameron Moore, UAB *1/2
San Antonio native who can block shots but still raw.

JaMychal Green, Alabama *

Eric Griffin, Campbell *

Mitchell Watt, Buffalo *

Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri *

Herb Pope, Seton Hall *

Robert Sacre, Gonzaga *

Garrett Stutz, Wichita State *


International Prospects
The Spurs love to draft international prospects, especially in the second round. Here are the international players in this year's draft.

Evan Fournier, France **1/2
The highest rated international prospect is swingman who is a pick-and-roll whiz.

Kostas Papanikolaou, Greece **1/2
High basketball IQ. Great competitor. Questionable athleticism.

Tomas Satoransky, Czech Republic **1/2
Talented with and without the ball but needs to add strength.

Furkan Aldemir, Turkey **
Strong rebounder but one-dimensional.

Tornike Shengelia, Rep. of Georgia **
Plays really hard but doesn't space the court.

Josep Franch, Spain *1/2
A big, crafty point guard who might not be athletic enough for the NBA

Nihad Djedovic, Bosnia *1/2
Talented and somewhat athletic but still a project.

Leon Radosevic, Croatia *1/2
Not athletic but he's long and smart.

Paul Lacombe, France *

Kostas Sloukas, Greece *

Tomislav Zubcic, Croatia *

Negueba Samake, France *

Alen Omic, Slovenia *

Dusan Cantekin, Serbia *

Mario Delas, Croatia *

Maik Zirbes, Germany *

Andrew Albicy, France *

Darko Planinic, Bosnia *

Ilkan Karaman, Turkey *

Izzet Turkyilmaz, Turkey *

Ognjen Kuzmic, Bosnia *


THE 2012 NBA MOCK DRAFT

1. Hornets - Anthony Davis
2. Bobcats - Thomas Robinson
3. Wizards - Bradley Beal
4. Cavaliers - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
5. Kings - Andre Drummond
6. Blazers - Damian Lillard
7. Warriors - Dion Waiters
8. Raptors - Harrison Barnes
9. Pistons - John Henson
10. Hornets - Austin Rivers
11. Blazers - Terrence Ross
12. Bucks - Tyler Zeller
13. Suns - Jeremy Lamb
14. Rockets - Meyers Leonard
15. 76ers - Moe Harkless
16. Rockets - Perry Jones
17. Mavericks - Jared Sullinger
18. Rockets - Terrence Jones
19. Magic - Arnett Moultrie
20. Nuggets - Kendall Marshall
21. Celtics - Tony Wroten, Jr.
22. Celtics - Fab Melo
23. Hawks - Andrew Nicholson
24. Cavaliers - Quincy Miller
25. Grizzlies - Royce White
26. Pacers - Jeff Taylor
27. Heat - Draymond Green
28. Thunder - Tomas Satoransky
29. Bulls - Marquis Teague
30. Warriors - Doron Lamb

31. Bobcats - Will Barton
32. Wizards - Kostas Papanikolaou
33. Cavaliers - Evan Fournier
34. Cavaliers - Festus Ezeli
35. Warriors - Kim English
36. Kings - Jared Cunningham
37. Raptors - Kyle O'Quinn
38. Nuggets - John Jenkins
39. Pistons - Scott Machado
40. Blazers - Miles Plumlee
41. Blazers - Tornike Shengelia
42. Bucks - Jae Crowder
43. Hawks - Tyshawn Taylor
44. Pistons - Darius Miller
45. 76ers - Orlando Johnson
46. Hornets - Bernard James
47. Jazz - Robbie Hummel
48. Knicks - Mike Scott
49. Magic - Darius Johnson-Odom
50. Nuggets - Hollis Thompson
51. Celtics - Quincy Acy
52. Warriors - Kevin Murphy
53. Clippers - Kevin Jones
54. 76ers - Nihad Djedovic
55. Mavericks - Furkan Aldemir
56. Raptors - Paul Lacombe
57. Nets - Henry Sims
58. Timberwolves - Leon Radosevic
59. Spurs - Josep Franch
60. Lakers - Cameron Moore

THE CRYSTAL BASKETBALL

I think it will be a quiet night for the Spurs. They'll keep their 59th selection and hope that a European draft-and-stash player falls to them -- namely Satoransky, Papanikolaou, Shengelia or Franch.

I would say the spurs could possibly look to trade the rights to hanga and bertans as well.I would love if the spurs were able to get two athletes out of this draft, something like wroten and Nicholson or Terrence jones.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Josep Franch, Spain *1/2
A big, crafty point guard who might not be athletic enough for the NBA

* * * * *

59. Spurs - Josep Franch

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Looks like another De Colo . . .

I gotta good feeling about Royce White.

Spurs keep 59th and draft-and-stash like with Hanga or Manu.

Moving into the first round requires some combo of Blair/Neal/Bonner or Splitter.

Ya'll have gone sour on Splitter already?

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDynasty

Ya'll have gone sour on Splitter already?

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Not all. There's always been a "trade Tony" crowd and another bunch that wants to trade Manu. It's an annual occurrence.

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDynasty

Ya'll have gone sour on Splitter already?

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In the same way you've gone sour on Pau.

I'd give him a chance though - he was the hero in game 1 against OKC, and was playing well until Brooks did Hack-A-Tiago.

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Originally Posted by racm

In the same way you've gone sour on Pau.

I'd give him a chance though - he was the hero in game 1 against OKC, and was playing well until Brooks did Hack-A-Tiago.

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Pau's given up on basketball though. He's older, won 2 rings, has no motivation left, etc. Splitter just hasn't fully acclimated to the NBA game yet.

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDynasty

Pau's given up on basketball though. He's older, won 2 rings, has no motivation left, etc. Splitter just hasn't fully acclimated to the NBA game yet.

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He's only four years younger though.

As long as he works on his free throws he should stay a Spur though.

MFer you have Drew Gordon going undrafted!!!!!!

I think anthony davis would be a solid pick for the spurs

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Originally Posted by Russ

Looks like another De Colo . . .

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Except De Colo is athletic....

Great post timvp, thanks again.

The Spurs wanting to hoist #5 next year, has to have everything work right. Draft comes before free agency. So the draft must assume a great free agency. Therefore I'd draft gambling on that free agency.
Rose glasses on.
Duncan is going to sign, so we have to go for a 2012-2013 roster player.
Suppose the Spurs think Nando is pencilled in, one of Diaw/Lorbeck is highly probable. Hanga is impressing with the extra long workout.
Then, a non-stashed interior defender is need #1.
We haven't heard of any credible NBA FA signees.
We don't trade, so we have to accept with what's available at #59.
I predict Robert Sacre.

BTW, I am not on board that Splitter can't play with Duncan. I bought that Blair can't play with Bonner, and that Diaw played best with Parker. So if any bigman added that can play with either Blair or Bonner, then Splitter can play with Duncan. Lorbeck not having the extra Parker comfort level might pair up as a bench big. Again, at 59, Sacre fits, maybe JaMychal Green.

How does Kyle O'Quinn have low basket ball IQ? Also he is also a quality shot blocker guy is 6'10 with a wingspan of 7'5. His offensive game needs to be polished but his rebounding and shot blocking is good.

Wow, I can't remember ever seeing 20 3*+ prospects on your draft cheat sheets. Blows me away that the Bobcats and Wizards don't look too interested in MKG at 2 or 3 though. A defender like Barnes slipping to 8 would be nuts too.

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Originally Posted by DeadlyDynasty

I gotta good feeling about Royce White.

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I like him as well. Watched a lot of his games and I just think he has good basketball smarts.

So I guess three subtext is that the Cory Joseph pick was a huge huge mistake

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Wow, I can't remember ever seeing 20 3*+ prospects on your draft cheat sheets. Blows me away that the Bobcats and Wizards don't look too interested in MKG at 2 or 3 though. A defender like Barnes slipping to 8 would be nuts too.

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The Wizards have a decent defensive wing in Ariza. They need a guy who can shoot, and Beal provides it.

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Originally Posted by Cant_Be_Faded

So I guess three subtext is that the Cory Joseph pick was a huge huge mistake

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Same FO that got Ian Mahinmi tbh

I'm just pissed we traded away out first round draft pick order to get Jackson and get rid of Jefferson. This was a loaded draft. We could have amnestied Jefferson.
Hope the Spurs do something significant to make up for this blunder.

If somehow we swing a trade to land Kendall Marshall, I will be ecstatic. I think he'll be a top 5 PG in a few years, like a Rondo

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Originally Posted by racm

The Wizards have a decent defensive wing in Ariza. They need a guy who can shoot, and Beal provides it.

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If they want a guy who could shoot, they should take Barnes and get the elite defense as an added bonus. Not many people are going to stop him from being able to get good jumpshots off at 6'8". I see a lot of Stephen Jackson in Barnes, both the good (long, great defender, can get a jumpshot off anytime he wants, big-time clutch shooter) and the bad (subpar ballhandler).

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Originally Posted by ajballer4

If somehow we swing a trade to land Kendall Marshall, I will be ecstatic. I think he'll be a top 5 PG in a few years, like a Rondo

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I would kill to have Marshall on this team, and he'd be who I wanted with a late lottery or later first rounder.

Papanikolaou?

No Greeks, plz. :lol

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Originally Posted by xmas1997

I'm just pissed we traded away out first round draft pick order to get Jackson and get rid of Jefferson. This was a loaded draft. We could have amnestied Jefferson.
Hope the Spurs do something significant to make up for this blunder.

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:lmao, seriously...30th pick, :lmao...

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Originally Posted by xmas1997

I'm just pissed we traded away out first round draft pick order to get Jackson and get rid of Jefferson. This was a loaded draft. We could have amnestied Jefferson.
Hope the Spurs do something significant to make up for this blunder.

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:lol

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

I would kill to have Marshall on this team, and he'd be who I wanted with a late lottery or later first rounder.

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Blair/Bonner/Neal to Bucks for #12 then take Marshall?

Depth chart:

PG: Parker/De Colo(?)/Marshall/Joseph
SG: Green/Ginobili/De Colo
SF: Leonard/Jackson/Green
PF: Diaw/Lorbek(?)
C: Duncan/Splitter

solid enough?

I wish. I can't see Milwaukee taking that deal though with Blair coming up on a contract next summer and being completely uninsurable.

I think Terrence Jones would be a great fit. Probably my favorite player in the mid-1st range where the Spurs could realistically move up to.

I just wouldnt move Tiago straight up for him but would do a combo of Neal/Blair/Green/Joseph in a heartbeat.

i think we could do a trade with the bobcats for their no.2 pick + tyrus thomas for our scrubs and expiring deals...jordan wants to clear cap?

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Originally Posted by TDMVPDPOY

i think we could do a trade with the bobcats for their no.2 pick + tyrus thomas for our scrubs and expiring deals...jordan wants to clear cap?

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:rolleyes

He just traded an expiring contract for a longer deal with an additional 15M in salary plus a draft pick.

Fournier is an interesting young French guy. SI mock draft has him drafted at 29 by the Bulls, nba has him around 20. Pacers seem to be interested.
Evan Fournier 6-5 3/4 w/out shoes. 6-8 1/4 wingspan, 204 pounds, 8-6 1/2 standing reach.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz1z100q3Yu
http://www.draftexpress.com

In the other French players, Albicy is the most interesting for the Spurs. I like his game, he is a crafty PG. He brings a strong defensive presence, he is fast, his stealing capacity is one of his big strength, he is good at not turning the ball over and cherry on the cake he can shoot from downtown.

At 59 he can worth a look tbh

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Originally Posted by Mugen

I think Terrence Jones would be a great fit. Probably my favorite player in the mid-1st range where the Spurs could realistically move up to.

I just wouldnt move Tiago straight up for him but would do a combo of Neal/Blair/Green/Joseph in a heartbeat.

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MY dream too.

J'Covan Brown, Texas *
Only positive is he's from Port Arthur, Texas.


Damn:lol

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Originally Posted by Russ

Looks like another De Colo . . .

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I'd say he's a more of a straight up point guard than De Colo. De Colo looks more like a 1.5.

A point guard that isn't a plus defender might not be a need but at 59, you're just looking to draft an NBA player.

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Originally Posted by baseline bum

Wow, I can't remember ever seeing 20 3*+ prospects on your draft cheat sheets.

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I think this draft is pretty damn deep. But there's a pretty big talent drop off after about 25. At 30, I think the talent is pretty much par for what is available at 30 at any given year, so the Spurs didn't really lose out on much.

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Originally Posted by Cant_Be_Faded

So I guess three subtext is that the Cory Joseph pick was a huge huge mistake

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There's no such thing as a "huge huge mistake" at 29. Joseph is probably a bust but most picks at 29 are busts so it's no big deal. Taking a risk on a highly rated high school player who underwhelmed at one year in college wasn't a horrible idea ... but so far it looks like it won't pan out.

We'll know more after summer league though.

I'm more interested to see how Kawhi develops this year than any acquisition he makes. Can he become a scoring threat off the dribble or in the post? Or will he have to resort to having somebody create shots for him again. Not that I'm upset with his rookie season whatsoever, but I'd like to see if he can take it to the next level

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Originally Posted by xmas1997

I'm just pissed we traded away out first round draft pick order to get Jackson and get rid of Jefferson. This was a loaded draft. We could have amnestied Jefferson.
Hope the Spurs do something significant to make up for this blunder.

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:lol @ blunder

That turned out to be an even better trade than Spurs fans thought at the time. The Spurs traded their first round pick for ~$12 million and a player who fit seamlessly and stepped when needed.

The Spurs could have given up two first round picks and that would have still be a positive trade.

Besides, the 30th pick in this draft isn't anything too special.

I'm surprised you have Miller so low, LJ. Until the ACL tear he was widely considered the best prospect in his class (over Rivers, Gilchrist, Davis, etc.). I realise the ACL tear his senior season makes him really risky in the top 15 or so, but you don't like his length nor midrange game?

Oh, oops. I saw you had Miller at **1/2. I saw Quincy, Baylor *1/2, lacks skill and missed that you were talking about Acy and not Miller in my quick scan, lol. I'm surprised you were so generous with him. All Acy ever seemed to be when I watched him was a dunker with a worse hairline than LeBron.

Hollis Thompson 2nd round.

I guess this answers why you stayed up til 8am.

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Originally Posted by kori ellis

i guess this answers why you stayed up til 8am.

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buuuuussssssstttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeeeed

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Originally Posted by Kori Ellis

I guess this answers why you stayed up til 8am.

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:lol

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Originally Posted by timvp

:lol @ blunder

That turned out to be an even better trade than Spurs fans thought at the time. The Spurs traded their first round pick for ~$12 million and a player who fit seamlessly and stepped when needed.

The Spurs could have given up two first round picks and that would have still be a positive trade.

Besides, the 30th pick in this draft isn't anything too special.

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Probably true. The Spurs did make out good on the trade and getting Jack back in the fold, while ridding the roster of RJ, was quite a coup. However, I'd say the REAL blunder was the Spurs decision to re-up RJ in the first place. In essence, had they not done so, that would've negated everything else that transpired thereafter.

I still like Nicholson if they Spurs manage to find a way into the late first. He's probably the best PF option in the 20s as far as fit goes.

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Originally Posted by timvp

Second Round Bigmen
Bigmen who could be had in the second round.

Bernard James, Florida State **
Quality shotblocker and rebounder but he's 27.

Kyle O'Quinn, Norfolk State *1/2
Strong rebounder who can score but poor basketball IQ.

Henry Sims, Georgetown *1/2
A seven-footer who is definitely a project but might be a late bloomer.

Robert Sacre, Gonzaga *
Good scorer in the paint, excellent shot-blocker, good rebounder. Not really an athletic type.

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I'm probably more high on these bigs than most, but I believe all four have very good potential. They all have size, decent rebounding ability and are defensive-minded. Either one could come in, and with some time, seasoning and development, quite possibly fill a need for the Spurs, at a position that is currently undersized, underskilled and undermanned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

THE 2012 NBA MOCK DRAFT

31. Bobcats - Will Barton
32. Wizards - Kostas Papanikolaou
33. Cavaliers - Evan Fournier
34. Cavaliers - Festus Ezeli
35. Warriors - Kim English
36. Kings - Jared Cunningham
37. Raptors - Kyle O'Quinn
38. Nuggets - John Jenkins
39. Pistons - Scott Machado
40. Blazers - Miles Plumlee
41. Blazers - Tornike Shengelia
42. Bucks - Jae Crowder
43. Hawks - Tyshawn Taylor
44. Pistons - Darius Miller
45. 76ers - Orlando Johnson
46. Hornets - Bernard James
47. Jazz - Robbie Hummel
48. Knicks - Mike Scott
49. Magic - Darius Johnson-Odom
50. Nuggets - Hollis Thompson
51. Celtics - Quincy Acy
52. Warriors - Kevin Murphy
53. Clippers - Kevin Jones
54. 76ers - Nihad Djedovic
55. Mavericks - Furkan Aldemir
56. Raptors - Paul Lacombe
57. Nets - Henry Sims
58. Timberwolves - Leon Radosevic
59. Spurs - Josep Franch
60. Lakers - Cameron Moore

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That said, I simply cannot see the Spurs passing on a prospective young, athletic big, in lieu of a "big, crafty point guard who might not be athletic enough for the NBA", like Franch. I don't see him as an option at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by timvp

THE CRYSTAL BASKETBALL

I think it will be a quiet night for the Spurs. They'll keep their 59th selection and hope that a European draft-and-stash player falls to them -- namely Satoransky, Papanikolaou, Shengelia or Franch.

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Bottom line opinion: It could very well be a quiet night for the Spurs. However IMHO, if one of those aforementioned bigs are available, I predict the Spurs will bypass their usual second round draft-n-stash philosophy, in order to take flyer on one of them. That would be too good to pass up.

If any of these bigs are indeed available to the Spurs in the second round, it will be a true testiment as to the depth of this draft. And if the Spurs can somehow come out of this draft with one, I would certainly deem it a very successful draft.

The Spurs need to see what they can get for crap like Bonner and Blair. If you have to trade Neal or Tiago for something better, do it....

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I'm probably more high on these bigs than most, but I believe all four have very good potential. They all have size, decent rebounding ability and are defensive-minded. Either one could come in, and with some time, seasoning and development, quite possibly fill a need for the Spurs, at a position that is currently undersized, underskilled and undermanned.

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In a perfect world, it'd be great to get a young bigman with size who can develop into a defensive ace. The problem is that bigs that fit that profile who last to even the middle of the second round never pan out. Seriously, you'd have to go back years to find even one example of such a bigman taken in that part of the draft making it. History tells us any domestic big with prototypical size and defensive skill is long gone by the end of the second round.

To find an NBA player at the end of the second round, you usually have to draft outside of the box. You need to go with the undersized big, the small school wonder, the injury prone sleeper, the raw athlete without a position in college, the overlooked point guard or strike gold with a draft-and-stash. Since the Spurs have had success with the draft-and-stash method, that's probably the avenue they should travel.

I wouldn't mind trading up for a bigman but it'd take a full blown miracle for a useful domestic big with size to fall to 59.

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Originally Posted by timvp

In a perfect world, it'd be great to get a young bigman with size who can develop into a defensive ace. The problem is that bigs that fit that profile who last to even the middle of the second round never pan out. Seriously, you'd have to go back years to find even one example of such a bigman taken in that part of the draft making it. History tells us any domestic big with prototypical size and defensive skill is long gone by the end of the second round.

To find an NBA player at the end of the second round, you usually have to draft outside of the box. You need to go with the undersized big, the small school wonder, the injury prone sleeper, the raw athlete without a position in college, the overlooked point guard or strike gold with a draft-and-stash. Since the Spurs have had success with the draft-and-stash method, that's probably the avenue they should travel.

I wouldn't mind trading up for a bigman but it'd take a full blown miracle for a useful domestic big with size to fall to 59.

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That's why, rather than see the Spurs focus on trading up into the first round, I'd really prefer to seem them trade up near the top of the second, so as they would have their pick of these bigs.

Bernard James, who is projected for the second round and is listed here, could possibly fall because of his age (27). By his own admission, the age thing has been brought up, as a red flag, in every interview he's had with every NBA team.

Still, given the choice, it would be better to invest that pick in one of those young, athletic bigs, if available. I would gather either one would have a much better chance of panning out than some unathletic Euro PG, who is even less likely to pan out years from now.

Unless the Spurs have some other surprises in store for us, that's the route I hope they take.

Tbh, I think an unathletic Euro point guard has a better chance of panning out than a big with size at the end of the second round. There hasn't been one to pan out in years.

That said, James is a unique situation. His age could legitimately cost him 20+ spots in the draft. If the Spurs think his age is the only thing keeping him from being a borderline first round draft pick, they should draft him at 59.

Drafting a 27-year-old would definitely qualify for an out of the box selection.

Spurs pick is so late that the mindset isn't exactly the same than with the other picks.

When a team pass on a player they like with their pick, the likely consequence is that he is lost because another team will draft him. Spurs pick is #59. Only one player will be drafted after it. If Spurs pass on a player they like, the likely consequence is that he will hit free agency and Spurs will have another chance to get him for summer league/training camp.

It's another factor that will push even more Spurs to take the draft and stash road.

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Originally Posted by timvp

In a perfect world, it'd be great to get a young bigman with size who can develop into a defensive ace. The problem is that bigs that fit that profile who last to even the middle of the second round never pan out. Seriously, you'd have to go back years to find even one example of such a bigman taken in that part of the draft making it. History tells us any domestic big with prototypical size and defensive skill is long gone by the end of the second round.

I wouldn't mind trading up for a bigman but it'd take a full blown miracle for a useful domestic big with size to fall to 59.

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Bingo!

This gets lost in the lead-up to every draft. Just go back and look at all those players we yearned so desperately for after about the 10th pick or so. Even we have forgotten them.

With bigs, this principle is magnified by about tenfold.

Bigs have every advantage in having their talents oh-so-gently coaxed from them from the time they're about 12 or so. It is simply impossible that they are unknowns by the time their NBA draft day arrives.

Bottom line, in this day and age of AAU, computers, stringers, and technology saavy scouting departments, there are no domestic "sleeper" bigs that you can somehow "uncover" in the 2d round. They're picked over more than the bargain bin at the Walmart next to a trailer park. (Which is where most of these high-upside bigs will be working soon.)

It's just a nice early summer diversion.

Nice due-diligence timvp, as usual!

I don't have any expectations for the Spurs in this draft. Off-season moves come in many packages, as we know. I was extremely impressed with the Spurs' performance this season. Their offense was as prolific as I've seen it for many, many years. Point Diff was the best since 2006-07. They had textbook ball movement with a high apg avg. Minutes management was even better than usual by the coaching staff. Their player development regimen is one of the best in the league.

My wish list for the off-season boils down to 2 things.
1. Improve interior defense
Face it, the Spurs weren't within a city block of the defensive abilities of the other 3 conference finalists.

2. Add one or two players who can create their own shots.

The 2 teams in the finals were 2 of the better teams at creating their own scoring opportunities, whether from the floor or at getting to the FT line. OKC had the worst assists/game avg. in the NBA and Miami was the 10th worst.

Improving in each of those 2 area by just one player would make me very happy.

Solid D, I agree somewhat, but when you look at the laundry list of problems, interior d did not seem to be the biggest issue (at least vs OKC). That might be an issue as Tim can't play a lot of minutes, but I am of the belief that Tiago can really help. I would not mind a defensive, athletic big, but I think number 2 on your list is really number 1 IMO unless they Spurs can move into the lottery.

if he slides, we better draft Terrence Ross.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

Solid D, I agree somewhat, but when you look at the laundry list of problems, interior d did not seem to be the biggest issue (at least vs OKC). That might be an issue as Tim can't play a lot of minutes, but I am of the belief that Tiago can really help. I would not mind a defensive, athletic big, but I think number 2 on your list is really number 1 IMO unless they Spurs can move into the lottery.

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Allowing .474 shooting against the Thunder or any team directly equates to a lack of interior defensive strength. The Thunder had twice as many blocked shots and they got stops. The Spurs did not get stops. It was and has been a problem.

Glad we agree about the other need.

The Thunder shot 50+% from mid range, their shots at the rim, in the interior, were actually surprisingly low.

So LJ has this guy going #1?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/6...766ae058ca.jpg

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Defensively, the Spurs weren’t all bad. In fact, their interior defense was fantastic. At the rim, the Thunder connected on only 57.3% of their shots. Considering that they typically shoot 65.6% from that distance, Duncan and the rest of the team did a wonderful job of shutting down the paint.

Extending the area of focus out further, San Antonio’s defense was very good within fifteen feet of the basket. From fifteen feet and in, the Thunder shot only 48.5%. During the regular season, they shot 56.6% from that range. That's a colossal drop of 16.7%. Thus, even though the Thunder have breathtaking athletes, it's difficult to see the athleticism advantage in the stats alone.

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The Thunder made 52.7% of their two-pointers outside of 15 feet for the series. Normally, OKC shoots 42.6% from that range. Normally, the Spurs allow their opponents to shoot 40.6% from that range. But, unfortunately for the Spurs, the Thunder’s long-range shooting was abnormally deadly this series. Yes, San Antonio gave up some perimeter looks by design, but 52.7% isn’t sustainable by any team (or any player, for that matter) over the long haul. That said, give the Thunder credit. Their players stepped up and knocked down the most inefficient shots in the game of basketball at a shockingly efficient rate.

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http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/ca...-antonio-spurs

Thunder Inside 5 Feet
Western Conference Finals
Game FG pct Result

Game 1 43.5 Loss

Game 2 46.2 Loss

Game 3 57.6 Win

Game 4 67.9 Win

Game 5 63.2 Win

Game 6 60.0 Win

So for the series, they shot 57%, when they normally shot 66% and the league average was 63%.

They shot below their average and league average in 5 of the 6 games.

This is not to argue - I agree defense, in particular a defensive big, would be great. All I am saying is that I think young, athletic perimeter players with significant upside or more critical for the now and are also good for the future.

I don't see a lot of bigs with enough upside to really be happy about.

Look at the percentages for OKC's 2 losses. The Spurs didn't get stops. Strong interior defenders actually helps strengthen perimeter defense. But I'm sure you know that.

I do know that, but I don't think that is the most pressing issue due to the Spurs current needs and style of play. Spurs got stops *enough* in that area to win if their improvement in mid range defense/ability to score and create improved. If we can get an impact defenisve big, ok, but I think the odds of that are slim this draft (so are getting any impact player), but outside of Davis (who's going number one), I think an elite potential guard is more valuable is all.

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Originally Posted by Solid D

Allowing .474 shooting against the Thunder or any team directly equates to a lack of interior defensive strength. The Thunder had twice as many blocked shots and they got stops. The Spurs did not get stops. It was and has been a problem.

Glad we agree about the other need.

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I also think the Spurs interior defense wasn't that good. If the Spurs had a strong interior defense then the perimeter players could have been more aggressive defensively. I think that's why they gave up the open long mid range jumpers because the interior defense wasn't strong, so they had to kind of pack the lane a bit to help out the bigs.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

I do know that, but I don't think that is the most pressing issue due to the Spurs current needs and style of play. Spurs got stops *enough* in that area to win if their improvement in mid range defense/ability to score and create improved. If we can get an impact defenisve big, ok, but I think the odds of that are slim this draft (so are getting any impact player), but outside of Davis (who's going number one), I think an elite potential guard is more valuable is all.

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I disagree. Mid-range defense shouldn't be as big of a concern as perimeter D or interior D because it's the most inefficient shot in basketball. For the most part, the only wide-open mid-range jumpshots the Spurs allow are from bigs who don't usually shoot from that range with consistency (I'm looking at you, Serge Ibaka). Parker is our creator and playmaker on offense, and considering that we had the best offense in the league this year (and the best 3-point offense if I'm not mistaken), another guard wouldn't be as beneficial as a serviceable big would be.

Over the last 4 games of the WCF, OKC's interior FG% improved dramatically, and like Memphis last year, they got a lot of easy buckets near the rim off of second shot opportunities.

Imo the Spurs would be best suited by finding a big who can clean up the glass. Our interior defense improved dramatically with the additions of Splitter and Diaw this year, but neither is an especially great rebounder. Blair used to be a beast on the boards, but that ability dissapeared after last year.

tu holliway looks like a buy low spurs candidate.

LJ impressive

btw.

No guy with no 58 gonna help our chances to win all

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Originally Posted by polandprzem

btw.

No guy with no 58 gonna help our chances to win all

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Unless he is MANU! BUT even he did not come over right away so........:depressed:wow.


He was 57th right? What A GEM WE FOUND there, damn.

Manu produces few years after he was drafted

And in Spurs system it's impossible to make an impact in the 1st year.



Anyway draft does not mean anything now unless spurs gonna make a move and make a trade to go up

DX has a great podcast up that's all euro-centric and covers a lot of the end of draft flyer prospects

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...ventures-3999/

wouldnt mind the cavs pick late in the first round or both of there early 2 2nd round picks....

rockets just traded dalembert and 14 for 12 and scrubs from the bucks

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

Spurs are shopping forward DeJuan Blair, league sources tell Y! Spurs have Euro picks they could bring over next season, need roster space.

DraftExpress2: San Antonio also owns the rights to '10 pick Ryan Richards as well as '11 picks Davis Bertans and Adam Hanga. Nice collection of assets.

he two most like int'l prospects @WojYahooNBA is referring to for the Spurs would be '05 pick Erazem Lorbek and '09 pick Nando De Colo.

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Originally Posted by Brazil

Fournier is an interesting young French guy. SI mock draft has him drafted at 29 by the Bulls, nba has him around 20. Pacers seem to be interested.
Evan Fournier 6-5 3/4 w/out shoes. 6-8 1/4 wingspan, 204 pounds, 8-6 1/2 standing reach.

From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz1z100q3Yu
http://www.draftexpress.com

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nice pick by Denver at 20