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His size won't be a problem for teams that have bigger playmakers.
I think #5 is a bit too high for him, but he'd complement Cade perfectly.
Space the floor and cut, be a POA defender.
I don’t hate Carter, but 6’3” in the NBA is a miniature SG. If he were 6’7” or 6’8”, he’d be in the discussion for #1 overall. Everyone in this draft has at least one shortcoming, and his are size and playmaking. His asst/TO ratio isn’t unworkable, but at < 2, it’s really more of a SG/SF ratio, not a PG.
His size won't be a problem for teams that have bigger playmakers.
I think #5 is a bit too high for him, but he'd complement Cade perfectly.
Space the floor and cut, be a POA defender.
I agree, but with a mini SG, you need multiple large playmakers, or at least high level connectors, or you surrender size when your version of Cade goes to the bench.
Or you just match their minutes.
If not, I don't think an elite defender with his wingspan, despite the lack of height, would have trouble with guarding any bench shooting guards.
Kind of how for example Derrick and Jrue easily take care of any 6'7 or under player who's not named Luka Doncic.
It's just red flag after red flag with this guy. Camp says the injury is no big deal, turns out it's a partial ACL tear. Camp says his wingspan is 7 feet, turns out he has negative wingspan. Can't shoot the three. Has no midrange game. No floaters, no stop and pop at 15 feet, just scores at the rim over ABA scrubs but couldn't do it that effectively in Euroleague. Doesn't play defense. I can't understand why anyone would argue for this guy over Castle.
The worst passer in this draft is a much better passer than you
That and he rebounds and blocks shots better than some bigs.
He's not a lead creator, but can absolutely play as the nominal PG some alongside Wembanyama and Vassell, who are going to take on a lot of the ball handling duties until they upgrade Jones anyway.
We posted very similar thoughts on Carter at the same time in different threads.
I think it brings up a great draft question, of whether using an 8th pick on a guy who might be a great 6th man is advisable... and I think without Wemby the answer is probably no, but with him it very well might be yes.
When you list out Topic’s pros and cons, it sounds like someone who should go in the early second tbh. I don’t see a ton of differences between Topic and Nunez, other than a couple of inches, but Topic gets them from a freakishly long neck and weird body type, which I’m not sure is even a selling point.
In this draft, both in terms of the projected quality or lack thereof at the top, the Spurs having multiple lottery picks and the best prospect in 20 years if not ever, I have no qualms whatsoever about taking an older prospect who might have a 6th man ceiling because I think he has a better chance of hitting that than these mystery box wings (or combo guard, in Castle's case) have of becoming starters.
I think it brings up a great draft question, of whether using an 8th pick on a guy who might be a great 6th man is advisable... and I think without Wemby the answer is probably no, but with him it very well might be yes.
It'll be difficult for him to exceed that here because of the lack of a big guard/wing lead creator, but plenty of similar archetypes have . . .
Thanks for taking seriously the point I was making and really thinking about whether I should be drafted. I appreciate it.
It’d be disappointing at draft night to pick Topić who might not be playing the entire season. But If Spurs draft him at 8, it could be because they know more about the player Topic would become down the line, having the highest ceiling. The Spurs are not contending next season. So an injured Topic wouldn’t make a big difference in drafting him.
This is the most meh pick of the draft for me. I wouldn't be happy or upset. We'd be drafting a good basketball player and that seems to always pan out long term. Especially elite free throw shooters
With the weak draft this year. Maybe you would.
I was thinking kind of the same thing about Euro guards, but I'm glad someone pointed out some of the players drafted. Other than Luka, these guys were drafted fairly high and are sort of meh even after playing in the NBA, and some didn't pan out at all. Is this whom the spurs want to draft, someone who may not even be as good as the chumps on this list ?
The spurs do have a history of drafting foreign players. If the player is generational like Luka, I totally understand. If they are the MVP of their league I understand. I they just wow you at the combine and in personal workouts, I understand. Topic is none of those things. A number of Euro players get drafted . Some even have decent NBA careers, most dont and go back to Europe. Even injured, Topic may be worth drafting based on his potential, just not in the top 10. Will he be a star... very early but on first glance, probably not. Will he be a role player on some NBA team, possibly, just look at the list. Could he be a bust? That's also possible given his injury.
Conclusion. Definitely pass at 4, and pass at 8. There are other players who better fit our immediate needs. If the spurs are tanking again, I can see them taking Topic. I just hope they don't tank and don't draft Topic. I know this draft is a bit wonky but geez. Spurs, do your homework.
Last edited by jjspur; 06-09-2024 at 06:08 PM.
Not counting Victor, the Spurs have only drafted two foreign players in the last nine years.
It's a good point. From what I can tell,Brian Wright is not as enamored with European players.
True, but Luka was a major dud and the jury is still out on G-league Siddy. If you go just a bit bit further back there are a number of foreign born players that the spurs drafted. Again it's just their history, can't change that. The players may be long gone, but the people that drafted them may not. Nothing against drafting a foreign player, but when you draft any player in the top 10, you try to draft the best player, foreign born or not.
How those players did isn't the point. The question is whether the Spurs draft a lot of foreign players. The answer, right now, is "No."
The answer may be no "right now", but in a few weeks, the new answer could be yes and that would change the stats a bit. Then the question then really becomes did the team make the right choice. Once it happens, its history. We can discuss whether it was 3 in the last 9 years which is true or 3 in the last 5 years which is also true - but that's just a silly statistic which could easily change.
As fans, we all want the spurs to just make a good choice - its an important start on the pathway to a winning future. We want them to choose players that can be successful and are less likely to flame out, American or foreign. We'll see in a few weeks.
Stop fluffing this guy.
Easy pass.
Not a fan but I got a bad gut feeling that if one of Castle or Dilli is not there, Topic will be a Spur, if for no other reason he starts off a stealth tank in the 2025 draft where the Spurs will again have at least 2 pics
Part of that, I think, is because prior to being hired by the Spurs, Wright was the head of college scouting for the Pistons, so he knows that world much better. On the other hand, RC, as we know, specialized in scouting in Europe.
Another reason has to do with us picking higher in the draft in recent years. Back then, our modus operandi was to find diamonds in the rough late in the draft, which going to Europe was good for. But when you’re constantly picking in the lottery, it’s just easier to stick with domestic players, who are more accessible and get more local exposure.
Your second point would be close to my guess. The Spurs used to try to get a march on other teams by picking foreign players that were overlooked. Once teams started scouting internationally much more, those supposed gems were rising on the boards year over year. Like Mahinmi. I don't remember his stats or production at time of draft, but nowadays a very young player with his athletic profile might be considered in the late lottery.
And so, the NBA started chasing a different sort of player, causing the Spurs to shift back into the domestic player market. I mean, much of this is just happenstance. But I do think the way the league was changing according to international players had a part. Ousmane Dieng wouldn't have been a lottery pick ten years ago.
He shouldn’t have been when he was selected. He’s so bad that paying 3 FRPs for the pick absolutely cancels out the Jalen Williams hit late in the first, and makes it a wash.
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