https://theathletic.com/1031345/2019...to-trade-talk/
19. San Antonio Spurs — Rui Hachimura
6-8 forward, junior, Gonzaga
The Spurs are a tight-knit group, so it’s always hard to guess their plans. But in conversations with other teams, I’m starting to wonder if they’re the team who has assured Hachimura of their interest, with Wasserman holding him out of workouts and the combine to try and float him down to No. 19. It’s easy to understand why an agency would want their client to be in San Antonio, given their tremendous developmental track record. Additionally, they’ve dealt with international players regularly, and would obviously be very capable in dealing with the unique environment that is the first Japanese basketball star. Given Hachimura’s marketability off the floor, fit is always going to be more important than how high he goes. He’ll make that money up with ease in Japan.
It’s also worth noting that the Spurs are thought to be interested in Goga Bitadze. The team tends to stand pat where it is on draft day, though. It’s an extremely unlikely occurrence that both Bitadze and Hachimura would be available at 19, so these ideas aren’t mutually exclusive.
Hachimura fits positionally for their long-term future at the 4, as an elite frame guy at 6-8, 240 pounds with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. He’s also skilled, with a first step that is terrific for a man his size, and it allows him to get to the basket. As a shooter, there’s a hitch at the top of his release to fix, but his touch is pretty good and at least portends some potential — but he needs to get more confidence from beyond the arc. Defensively, he possesses potential due to his strength and length, although sometimes his feet get a bit stuck in the mud at times and his feel on that end isn’t particularly strong after his prep years of being the primary offensive option with little defensive accountability until he reached Gonzaga. This year, things started to click a bit more on that end, but it remains an open question as to whether or not Hachimura will defend.
29. San Antonio Spurs (from TOR) — Luka Samanic
6-10 forward/center, 19 years old, Petrol Olimpia
This is a critical draft for the Spurs as they continue to fill out the younger side of their roster. They have three picks, including two first rounders. With the backcourt of the future looking set with Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and Lonnie Walker, the team can look toward the frontcourt to try and find players that fit the Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford mold. Samanic is the kind of high IQ, high skill player that tends to work there, and he worked out in San Antonio a couple weeks ago. I’d say that right around here is the start of his range, but he’ll likely be taken somewhere in the first round. Offensively, he’s a smart pick-and-roll player who can find the soft spot in the defense and make plays both shooting it and passing it. On defense, he’s versatile enough to guard on the perimeter, and has improved his bulk enough to not get completely overpowered inside. Depending on who is still available at 19, I think Samanic could legitimately be in play there, too.
49. San Antonio Spurs — Jontay Porter
6-11 center, 19 years old, Missouri
The Spurs were big fans of Porter last year, and still value big men at a level commensurate with taking two of them in the same draft. He’s suffered two straight ACL tears, but when he’s on the floor Porter displays a high level of IQ and terrific potential shot-making ability above the break. Much in the same way as Reid, his smooth shooting stroke has real potential to warp defenses, as does his passing ability. But to get a chance to do that, he has to get a clearance from NBA doctors and get back on the floor.
draft A+ imo
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My thoughts exactly.
