I did some research on Houstan bc I know he's worked out for a few teams. Confirmed workouts for Denver, Raptors, Grizzlies, has had a few others not mentioned in the article I read. I haven't seen anything tying him to Spurs workouts, but not everything is disclosed about him so who knows? Ive seen him mocked in other places to go sooner, like OKC at 32 and its possible as ever, that his promise was not from the Spurs at all.
In the course of trying to search info on him, I came across a scathing report from a scout. In particular him questioning the confidence shooting stood out.
Caleb Houstan, 6-8 freshman forward, Michigan. “Should have gone back to school. He didn’t have a good year. He was overwhelmed at times out there. He doesn’t have one thing that really jumps out at you. He just doesn’t have the foot speed yet and he’s got a slow shot. He’s not a great athlete, a little heavy-legged. I love his stroke, it looks great, it just never goes in. I watched him three times this year and he never played well. He’s missing the toughness piece. He’s a basketball-IQ and high-character guy. I wonder about his compe iveness. He has a very scary lack of confidence in his shooting.”
https://detroitsportsnation.com/nba-...0/2022/281054/
Sounds like a Spur right? I am only half joking. Actually, somehow I am weirdly more skeptical than most that he's a Spur target. At 38? It's acceptable. Problem is if they get antsy thinking OKC at 32 is going to grab him and draft him sooner.
Oddly, I don't think this happens. The fact there is a rumor about Houstan almost guarantees this is not their guy that raises eyebrows this year.
The Duren stuff is too rampant. I can’t remember these type of consensus rumors actually being correct that often for the Spurs. If anything, I’m afraid it could be a distraction for us to get M. Williams, the other center. Hopefully neither unless it’s part of some Yak trade that makes sense.
He used to be much better with Draft Express being independent. I think like most everything ESPN owns, they're incredibly sloppy and lazy with almost everything they do.
Walker Kessler now to the green room.
This is beyond ed up. There are 24 players there now. Bordering on cruelty and hope for 'good television' over what's best for the players.
Kessler, Williams and Duren are the 3 centers going in the first round. These guys aren't falling past 25.
Picking a center at 9 is just ing stupid tbh. We need someone who can be on the floor in the 4th quarter of a playoff series. I would be completely shocked if PATFO went center at 9. It’s not gonna happen because they know what’s up.
Not if it’s a transcendent talent at Center. But yea, I agree that we shouldn’t go C at 9 because there isn’t a transcendent C in this draft. And that’s why I’m confident we won’t, despite all the rumors (all these Duren rumors actually make me more confident that the Spurs will not select him). I’m confident it’ll be Sochan or Daniels, whoever of those two are available, unless someone like Mathurin somehow slips to us, which is unlikely.
if mathurin somehow falls, you've got to take him but i agree that he likely will be gone by nine. and i agree on the lack of a transcendent C. sochan has basically the same wingspan and is more proven defensively so the spurs going with him or davis would make a lot of sense.
Brian Wright said there draft approach is best player available so that’s good Imo
While the discussion on trading D Murray is interesting, the reasoning for many comments (poor defense) is beyond strange. Don't you guys Remember his first notice as a rookie was as a all-league 2nd team defender. His stats on steals, defensive rebounds, defensive box scores, etc are all in the top range of PGs.
His shot coming in the league was because of mechanics and he's improved some, but still can't hit the 3 above mediocre, but can get away with it as a PG. Given the fact that he has been carrying the team on offense with drives and short jumpers, he might be slacking off some on the defensive end to conserve energy.
He really needs a very good backcourt shooter to help with spacing, but is he going to be the first option on our offense going forward? His stats on offense are pretty good, but that is because of his high usage as a scorer on a weak offensive team. If he is in a timeline crises as far as his career advancement goes, it might do him a favor to move him, but that's gonna leave us with a big problem since we have no one to replace his production. If he doesn't remain our number 1 option and his scoring goes down, then his trade value also drops. He probably hit his ceiling last season if we get a good shooter in the draft. If we take Sochan, he'll probably remain out first option.
IF (and that's a BIG if) Duren is available, we take him
IF Charlotte is still in the market for a C, we trade Poetl (and 20 or 25) for one of their first and maybe a future pick. We grab BPA with that pick (hoping it's a PF).
It's a wrap after that. Could trade.what's left on draft picks to move up or for future picks.
That'd be a good draft.
We fill in the rest with F/A or trades. Keeping options open for next year.
It probably just means he gets picked a spot or two before us, to be honest.
It probably just means he gets picked a spot or two before us, to be honest.
Exactly my mindset.
I really like Duren, he's my man, but it's not just about drafting him, but drafting a young player with good upside to replace Poeltl that you then trade (with whatever it might take) to move for a second higher pick (Sochan in dysneyland) or eventually a quality vet.
Thinking Sochan is the more realistic get at 9th..... or Davis. ah well could always be someone unexpected too.
And if the goal is to get Duren to go early so someone else falls, then I say well played.
*I doubt that’s what’s happening, unfortunately.
I am listening to Zach Lowe interview Givony in the Lowe podcast and OMG... For sure Givony advised Portland to pick Shaedon Sharpe. I am listening to how he would handle the Kyrie Irving flaking out situation in Brookly and he just said, he'd give him the 5 years max if it came down to it and deal with a fallout if it doesn't work out later... because, here's the reason, because talent wins in the NBA and how many players can you name more talented than Kyrie Irving?
So what if he misses over half a season? So what if the Earth is flat? So what if he's a flake? So what? He can ball, pay him and get it over with.
Says the same guy who would not be dissuaded at all by Shaedon Sharpe being a complete airhead, not able to name anyone in the team, missing out a full year of basketball from his life just to play some hide and seek game of hype apparently, if you watch him in an empty gym and your mouth drops to the floor and you look like this?
I guess I hope it works out for Shaedon giving the little shine to his teammates in Portland you know?
Givony is right on one thing though, talent wins in the NBA. It's a conundrum.
Sochan a Spur confirmed.
Probably, though Dyson or Jalen Williams I suppose could be versatile as well.
Wright said all the right things in his interview today but who actually knows how those guiding principles are translated into rankings on the big board ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Jeremy Sochan
Dalen Terry
and...
dunno
FWIW, ESPN’s mock currently has us taking Sharpe at #9.
All of Brian Wright's quotes sound like a veiled way of saying the Spurs aren't drafting Jalen Duren. "We won't hesitate to draft a guard," "we want versatility," etc. That makes me wonder if the plan really is to draft Duren and the Spurs trotted out Wright to try to get the rest of the basketball world off of the scent
Yea this is under the assumption that Daniels is gone by 9. If he’s available, I think he’ll be the pick. I go back and forth between he and Sochan.
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