Spurs Mock Draft 1.0: Picking at 9, 20, 25 and 38 for the Spurs

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Baldwin sucks he has injury history and his combine scores were terrible he is a bad version of Bertans at best. Know Williams well he is in another category as far as moving up in draft but will see how far he moves up - We way over reached for Primo I don’t want us to do that again.

[Drom John]

Complex | 2022 NBA Mock Draft (V2)
Danny Cunningham, May 26, 2022

9. San Antonio Spurs - AJ Griffin, Duke
AJ Griffin Duke
Image via Getty/Grant Halverson

Position: Forward
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 220 pounds
Year: Freshman
Age: 18

It’s still weird seeing San Antonio in the NBA Draft Lottery, isn’t it? Head coach Gregg Popovich squeezed the most out of the team by getting this group to the NBA Play-In Tournament, but it’s clear that they need some help to get back over the top. The Spurs have historically had a terrific player development system, and their selection at ninth overall could be a huge benefit of that.

The scary thing about Griffin is the hitch he has in his shot. He needs a quicker release, and with the speed of the NBA game there are shots he gets off in college that may not be as good of an idea in the NBA. If he can still shoot a solid percentage in the NBA, he’ll be a good 3-and-D player off the bench. As the season went on at Duke, his offensive game expanded a bit as he seemed to be more comfortable putting the ball on the floor. He dealt with a number of different injuries while in high school that caused him to miss time, so the pre-draft process will be important for teams that are considering him.

20. San Antonio Spurs – Christian Koloko, Arizona
Christian Koloko Arizona
Image via Getty/Rebecca Noble

Position: Center
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 230 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 21

Christian Koloko is an incredibly energetic, raw talent that’s going to need time to develop. At the very least, he should be able to provide energy and shot blocking for an NBA team off the bench. He still has plenty of upside on the offensive end if he’s in the right player development situation, but that will need to take some time. Right now, he should be used primarily as a guy that can set screens and roll to the rim. He can also outhustle opponents down the floor in transition for easy finishes at the rim.

25. San Antonio Spurs – Christian Braun, Kansas
Christian Braun Kansas
Image via Getty/Jamie Schwaberow

Position: Forward
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 218 pounds
Year: Junior
Age: 21

Christian Braun wasn’t a consistent enough shooter in college to be a lottery player, but he’s been good enough to find himself in the first round. While he was at Kansas, he was lights out on a smaller volume from deep, knocking down 44 percent of his three-point attempts (2.3 per game). His efficiency dropped to just 34 percent in his sop re year on a much higher volume (5.1 attempts per game) before finding a happy medium as a junior at 38.6 percent on 3.3 attempts per game. He did expand his game offensively as a junior as he attacked the basket at a higher frequency, more than doubling his attempts from inside the arc.

[Ariel]

Sochan’s ideal version is Boris Diaw, maybe.

Better defender and a worse shooter, but in terms of size, versatility, selflessness, BBIQ, there are certainly many things in common between the 2.

[Drom John]

HeatCheckBB | 2022 NBA Mock Draft: New No. 1 pick in updated post-Combine projections
Brian Rauff, May 25, 2022

9) San Antonio Spurs

Jeremy Sochan, PF, Baylor – 6-foot-9, 230 lbs.
9.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 47.4 FG%, 29.6 3P%

Sochan is an investment into potential and upside. He’s an elite athlete for someone his size and should be an impact player defensively and on the glass right away. His offensive skills and shooting are still raw, but that defense gives him a solid floor in today’s NBA. San Antonio needs long-term help on the interior and loves that versatility, making this a good fit.

20) San Antonio Spurs (via Raptors)

TyTy Washington, PG, Kentucky – 6-foot-3, 197 lbs.
12.5 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.5 rpg, 45.1 FG%, 35.0 3P%

The Spurs value versatility, so adding another guard who can play either with or without the ball and has a reliable 3-point shot seems like a no-brainer. That description fits Washington at this point in the draft. He has already been linked to San Antonio and has the kind of offensive upside that could make this a steal for the Spurs.

25) San Antonio Spurs (via Celtics)

EJ Liddell, PF, Ohio State – 6-foot-7, 240 lbs.
19.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.5 apg, 49.0 FG%, 37.4 3P%

Another versatile, positionless player going to the Spurs … sensing a theme here? Liddell’s shooting ability makes him an appealing stretch-4 and he showed he can play defense both inside and on the perimeter at a high level. The Ohio State junior is an older prospect but could provide some impact right away.

[Ariel]

Baldwin sucks he has injury history and his combine scores were terrible he is a bad version of Bertans at best. Know Williams well he is in another category as far as moving up in draft but will see how far he moves up - We way over reached for Primo I don’t want us to do that again.

Baldwin seems like he's trying his best to go undrafted. Every news that comes about him hurts him more, whether it's his athleticism, his questionable decisions, his work ethic... at this point I'd hesitate to use #38 on him.

[Mr. Body]

Complex | 2022 NBA Mock Draft (V2)
Danny Cunningham, May 26, 2022

AJ Griffin/Christian Koloko/Christian Braun

Another "we forgot AJ Griffin, let's stick him on the Spurs" draft.

The Spur's flirtation with players who can only shoot didn't go well this last year with Forbes and McBuckets. When the best player in your haul is Christian Koloko, you done ed up.

[Mr. Body]

HeatCheckBB | 2022 NBA Mock Draft: New No. 1 pick in updated post-Combine projections
Brian Rauff, May 25, 2022

Sochan/TyTy Washington/EJ Liddell

Sochan of course is a fine pick at 9. I don't know how Washington has been linked to San Antonio. How? By other mock drafts? He's a provocative pick. Other guards and wings, the team would have to axe at least one player. To make room for Washington's development I feel like they have to axe at least two (Walker, Jones). I'm growing on Liddell. I think he'd be a steal with a later pick, although I don't think he's a longtime starter.

[Ariel]

Another "we forgot AJ Griffin, let's stick him on the Spurs" draft.

The Spur's flirtation with players who can only shoot didn't go well this last year with Forbes and McBuckets. When the best player in your haul is Christian Koloko, you done ed up.

A blindfolded chimp throwing darts at the draft board couldn't pick worse than that. I almost threw up my lunch.

[wildbill2u]

Look this draft is a crapshoot like any other draft especially after the top 5 guys. You win some you lose some. We lost with Sammich but won with Keldon all in the same draft. What we probably do know is this
1. Unless there is a decent trade to be made , they will select #9 in which there is a range of about 6 players that they should take because of talent or fit.
2. One or possibly two players we didn't expect to drop will be available to them at 9. Will they select a falling player ? Its a decision they will make as it happens.
3 They will trade at least one of their four picks if not more. Can't see 4 rookies replacing 4 vets on this team. We already have a very young team. They will probably keep 2 possibly 3 but not 4.
4. They will take a flier on some foreign player. I would bet on that one. If they are a top talent on some top tier Euro team fine, just don't select some middling guy on some middling half ass team. Potential is great but waiting years for it to appear sucks when it doesn't. Explain that one to the fans Brian Wright. Procida or Besson would be ok additions.
5. Hopefully in this draft they don't reach for a player, but its always a possibility with the spurs. They've done it before, they'll do it again. With 4 picks its ok to reach at 25 or 38 but not at 9 or even 20. If there isn't any one available that they like, trade the pick for a future pick. It beats selecting a player that sits on the bench for 2 years and then gets cut or selecting a G-League lifer.
6 Its a crapshoot but as in all crapshoots there are always a few winners but losers as well.

Lots to think about in this post.

[wildbill2u]

Could some of you draft gurus take a look at these questions???

If you had to replace Kelden Johnson at SF with the 9th or 20th pick, considering all aspects of defense and offense, who would fit the Spurs best?

If you had to replace KJ at PF with the 9th or 20th pick, considering all aspects of defense and offense, who would fit the Spurs best?

As you can gather, I'm not a big fan of KJ as a long-term Spur answer, much less a starter at either position, because of his "tweener" limitations at both positions. I have my own ideas on this draft as a way to improve the team by putting him on the bench (sooner rather than later), but I'm not as competent as some of you are to analyze the draft desirability/availability of the respective players at these positions. So I'm looking for a list of SFs and PFs who might be there and move KJ out soon.

I will say I'm OK with a "swing for the fences" pick at #9 this point, but I'd hate to have us pick another guard unless he has All-Star potential. (Damn I hate that word "potential"/ Can you say Sharpe?)

I'm not particularly a KJ hater, but I just think his upside for the Spurs is as a 6th or 7th man off the bench when we need an energy lift or possibly some 3pt shooting in a good matchup.

[Uriel]

My dream (extremely unlikely) scenario would be:
1. Keegan Murray falls to #9, and we pick him there.
2. Ousmane Dieng falls to #20, and we pick him there.
3. Nikola Jovic is available at #25, and we pick him there.

Then we stash one of Dieng and Jovic (probably Jovic) while marinating the other in Austin. Then insert Murray immediately into the starting lineup.

[JPB]

The closer we get to the draft, the meh'er this class looks tbh. Hope I'm proven wrong.

[scott]

Could some of you draft gurus take a look at these questions???

If you had to replace Kelden Johnson at SF with the 9th or 20th pick, considering all aspects of defense and offense, who would fit the Spurs best?

If you had to replace KJ at PF with the 9th or 20th pick, considering all aspects of defense and offense, who would fit the Spurs best?

As you can gather, I'm not a big fan of KJ as a long-term Spur answer, much less a starter at either position, because of his "tweener" limitations at both positions. I have my own ideas on this draft as a way to improve the team by putting him on the bench (sooner rather than later), but I'm not as competent as some of you are to analyze the draft desirability/availability of the respective players at these positions. So I'm looking for a list of SFs and PFs who might be there and move KJ out soon.

I will say I'm OK with a "swing for the fences" pick at #9 this point, but I'd hate to have us pick another guard unless he has All-Star potential. (Damn I hate that word "potential"/ Can you say Sharpe?)

I'm not particularly a KJ hater, but I just think his upside for the Spurs is as a 6th or 7th man off the bench when we need an energy lift or possibly some 3pt shooting in a good matchup.

At SF: Mathurin, Davis, Daniels, JWill! Dieng
At PF: literally anyone

And I’d like KJ

[duncan2150]

Sochan of course is a fine pick at 9. I don't know how Washington has been linked to San Antonio. How? By other mock drafts? He's a provocative pick. Other guards and wings, the team would have to axe at least one player. To make room for Washington's development I feel like they have to axe at least two (Walker, Jones). I'm growing on Liddell. I think he'd be a steal with a later pick, although I don't think he's a longtime starter.

Agreed on Washington tough i saw that he has a workout scheduled with the Spurs. Same on Lidell.

[Mr. Body]

Could some of you draft gurus take a look at these questions???

If you had to replace Kelden Johnson at SF with the 9th or 20th pick, considering all aspects of defense and offense, who would fit the Spurs best?

If you had to replace KJ at PF with the 9th or 20th pick, considering all aspects of defense and offense, who would fit the Spurs best?

As you can gather, I'm not a big fan of KJ as a long-term Spur answer, much less a starter at either position, because of his "tweener" limitations at both positions. I have my own ideas on this draft as a way to improve the team by putting him on the bench (sooner rather than later), but I'm not as competent as some of you are to analyze the draft desirability/availability of the respective players at these positions. So I'm looking for a list of SFs and PFs who might be there and move KJ out soon.

I will say I'm OK with a "swing for the fences" pick at #9 this point, but I'd hate to have us pick another guard unless he has All-Star potential. (Damn I hate that word "potential"/ Can you say Sharpe?)

I'm not particularly a KJ hater, but I just think his upside for the Spurs is as a 6th or 7th man off the bench when we need an energy lift or possibly some 3pt shooting in a good matchup.

For PF, it's hard to imagine the Spurs would pass on Keegan Murray if he drops. Other possibilities at that pick are Jeremy Sochan or Tari Eason. Eason is more well-rounded but is a bit wild, Sochan is a potentially great switchable defender who has some shooting issues.

Any of those players could let Keldon push to the SF. Sochan and Eason seem like they could play the 3 or 4, potentially. Murray feels more like a modern 4.

The two guards I find reasonable at 9 are Ben Mathurin and Johnny Davis. Each has weaknesses, both have some star potential. I wouldn't say Sharpe is a swing for the fences player. He's more like you're taking a home run chop at a 2nd base pitch.

[Drom John]

CBS | 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Auburn's Jabari Smith is new top pick by Magic, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren slips to No. 2
Kyle Boone, 42 minutes ago, AKA 26 May 2022

Round 1 - Pick 9
Dyson Daniels SG
G League Ignite • 6'6" / 175 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
17th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
11.3
RPG
5.9
APG
4.4
3P%
25.5%
Daniels is rising up boards and clearly into lottery territory after a strong G League Ignite season and a strong pre-draft process. He's a creative live-dribble passer with great size and incredible defensive chops as one of the best on-ball perimeter defenders. Still needs to develop his game, particularly as a shooter, but the feel and IQ make me confident in his game translating.

Round 1 - Pick 20
Malaki Branham SF
Ohio State • Fr • 6'5" / 180 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
13.7
RPG
3.6
APG
2
3P%
41.6%
Ohio State turned to Branham as one of its go-to options down the stretch run of the season, and he responded by averaging 17.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in the second half of the year. He's a big wing who can torch the net and scores it at a really high level, and now that he's committed to staying in the draft, should be in the mix as a potential lottery pick.

Round 1 - Pick 25
Leonard Miller SF
Fort Erie Int'l • 6'9" / 195 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
69th
POSITION RNK
20th
This is an upside play for the Spurs. Miller's incredibly raw as a prospect and not ready to be an NBA contributor just yet, but he's got the physical tools to be a dynamic two-way player in time. Low risk (picks in the late 20s don't hit all the time) but high reward (Miller could be a legit rotation player in a few years).

[scott]

CBS | 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Auburn's Jabari Smith is new top pick by Magic, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren slips to No. 2
Kyle Boone, 42 minutes ago, AKA 26 May 2022

This is precisely the kind of Spursy draft to piss us all off that I’m expecting ��

[Ariel]

The closer we get to the draft, the meh'er this class looks tbh. Hope I'm proven wrong.

I don't think it's a bad draft, I just think it's distributed differently from last year. Having a top 8 pick in 2021 was awesome, multiple potential franchise / perennial all star caliber guys... but from 9 onwards it was mostly underwhelming, give or take a surprise or two (mostly Herb Jones).
This draft's value lies mostly in the top 4, but there's also value to be had even a few picks past the lottery. from 6 onwards you have:
bigs/forwards: Duren, Keegan Murphy, Sochan, Eason
wings/guards: Mathurin, Johnny Davis, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Williams, Blake Wesley
prospects: Dieng, Jovic
If we could come out with one from each group, it'd be ideal. We just need an extra pick in that 10-18 range... and we have the assets to pull it off.

[R. DeMurre]

Of course a lot will be determined by who gets picked ahead of the Spurs' slots, but I was thinking today that I wouldn't mind it if a scenario like this happened: Spurs pick Sochan at #9, and then Tari Eason unexpectedly slips to #20, where they pick him because he's the BPA at that point. Some might say those would be overlapping picks, but I don't think a team can really have too much versatility at 6'8" with 7'+ wingspans.... Jalen Williams and Jake Laravia are kind of my sentimental favorites at this point, as well as Mark Williams if he somehow slips to #25. Ditto for Keegan Murray/ Eason.

[Ariel]

^ That would be GREAT, I'd be ecstatic. But I can't see it happening, Tari will get snatched anywhere from 14 to 18 IMO. We might have a chance if we package 38 to move up 2 or 3 spots.

[rascal]

9. Sharpe/Mathurin/Murray (Want to come out of the draft with one high upside offensive player)
13. Sochan/ Eason - trade Poeltl
20. Kamagate
25. trade for a future first

[The Truth #6]

^ That would be GREAT, I'd be ecstatic. But I can't see it happening, Tari will get snatched anywhere from 14 to 18 IMO. We might have a chance if we package 38 to move up 2 or 3 spots.

To me, that is ideal and potentially realistic: grab Sochan at 9 and use some combination of our other picks to move up and secure Eason, who I doubt makes it to 20. Two power forwards, which arguably makes our development work easier as they have somewhat similar deficiencies at the same position, mainly shooting. We’ll still be in the lottery next year, but our roster will be less of a Frankenstein creation, and hopefully, our draft selection process next year has less glaring deficiencies to address.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I'd be pleased if the Spurs get Sochan at 9.

This team needs athletic size. If we don't address that this off season it will be another long year.

Trading Poeltl, without an adequate replacement, will cost us wins next year. He does a lot of "off the balance sheet" work that doesn't get a lot of credit in the box score but certainly makes the Spurs a better team. Trading him would require a very healthy return, IMO.

[RC_Drunkford]

I'm not that intrigued by Sochan tbh. I still hope the Spurs trade up from the 9th pick to at least get Keegan Murray

[rascal]

I'm not that intrigued by Sochan tbh. I still hope the Spurs trade up from the 9th pick to at least get Keegan Murray

Yes, moving up a little from 9 then draft Murray is the best move and use of their extra draft pick assets.