Not one eye-popping prospect thus far. Sort of a good news since the Spurs have the best record at the moment.
Xavi Rabaseda looks like a good pick for the 2nd round. With this being a weak draft he could go pretty high in the second as a nice draft n' stash prospect. If hes there when we pick though I definitely think you have to give some thought to him.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Xavi-Rabaseda-5876/
Not one eye-popping prospect thus far. Sort of a good news since the Spurs have the best record at the moment.
Anybody know anything about Gary Flowers from Southern Miss? 6'8 PF that probably could make the transition to the 3 or a small ball PF. Not currently on any of the mocks. Late 2nd rounder maybe?
On the contrary, I'd say the Spurs glaring weakness is lack of size and length in the frontcourt. They need another big that can rebound, defend, block shots and generate some passable offense from the block. With Duncan's gradual decline, so goes the Spurs points frontcourt defense and points in the paint.
It would appear there is a lack of such bigs in the first round of the 2011 draft class. If that turns out to be the case, I hold out hope that Marcus Cousin may be able to fit the bill, as a young, incoming developmental big.
Otherwise, I'd prefer to see one of those mid-level SFs (Witherspoon, Harris perhaps even Honeycutt) as the target.
A starting frontcourt of Blair and Duncan with Bonner and Splitter as backups looks fine on the paper for 2011-2012. Add to that a vet with a min salary in the Ratliff mold and it should work.
Spurs could draft a big but they won't really need him next year.
To me, Ryan Richards is a light year more interesting prospect than Marcus Cousin. I wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs signing Cousin in March like they did last year with Jerrells and Gee but the true good prospect is the 7'1" 19 years old kid.
is Richards still rehabbing in San Antonio?
And does anyone know when his contract in the ACB is over? Basically, is there a chance for him to be a Spur next season or is he still years away from wearing a suit behind the bench on the inactive list.
Richards is under contract until 2012 but if Spurs want him as soon as next year, it should be easy and quite cheap to get him.
There doesn't seem to be any quality bigs in this draft whatsoever. It's incredibly disappointing. The Spurs are probably going to have to look the way of the wing this upcoming year. A PG could be had too...but the Spurs really don't need one.
It's upsetting, because the one thing I think the Spurs need most is a developmental shot blocker. Honestly, a player somewhat in the mold of a Serge Ibaka would be incredible find for us.
Ryan Richards is a 7 footer who's only 19 and can still really improve and put on some muscle. He can shoot the outside shot and I think if he would've waited a few more years he probably would've gone in the first round to somebody.
I really think a trade of the 2011 trade is the most likely scenario.
(I also think that the rumors about trade talks between Spurs and Knicks about this pick did have some legs)
this trade could also be a trade down scenario that ends in a draft&stash like De Colo and Richards.
2011 draft really doesn't look intriguing at all and picking at the very end doesn't help either.
and Spurs currently don't need another typical 1st round pick.
in Neal they "won" more or less a non planned 1st round pick, considering he delivers what you usually hope to get from a 1st rounder and he is locked up for 3 cheap years. (in fact he is even cheaper than a 1st rounder)
I agree.
The potential effects of a long lockout must be considered. If a lockout appears imminent, then we can expect many early-entry candidates to remain in college for an additional year rather than risk being caught in limbo. That will make the 2011 draft relatively weak and the 2012 draft relatively deep. If the 2011 pick can be used in a trade to bolster this year's roster or moved for a pick in 2012 the Spurs should do it.
There seem to be a lot of SFs and swing-types in the last third of the first round, but I don't see the Spurs keeping a #30 pick, instead trading it away.
Agree and the new NCAA rule saying that players must decide to stay or go back to school in early May instead of mid June will even hurt more the 2011 draft. I doubt there will have an agreement for a new CBA in early May.
Spurs' pick at the very end of the first round will have very little trade value. Spurs shouldn't been able to get a lot for it if they want to trade it. I can see them making a big gamble on an unknown.
Although all late round picks are a gamble somewhat, I wouldn't want the Spurs to use their 1st round pick on a complete unknown. Thats what 2nd round picks should used be for IMO.
that's why I thought they might/should look to trade down.
Cleveland? Cavs reportedly are looking to stockpile 1st rounders and will have a high 2nd rounder (currently #34) plus the Thunder 2nd rounder.
Good points. That is something the Spurs should be interested in. But would the Cavs be interested in the Spurs late 1st rounder?
reports say they are looking for 1st rounders for their rebuilding thing. a late 1st rounder is still a 1st rounder.
When I said "unknown", it isn't unknown to other NBA teams but unknown to fans.
It looks like a very late first round pick in this draft could be the equivalent of a mid second round pick in an average draft. I doubt there will have a lot of interesting traditional prospect left, that is to say a player coming from a big college. Instead of picking an average player from a big college, I can see Spurs gambling on a small college player (like Hill) or a very young European player (like Mahinmi).
Ya, this yrs draft should be interesting for the spurs. They have already seemed to infuse some quality younger players into the fold over the last 2 yrs and with Mcdyess possibly retiring and TD and manu both getting a yr older, this offseason (along with the draft) could be more of the same. Best player available always seems to be the spurs gameplan, but a big is a must either by FA or draft.
A player like Jeremy Tyler would be perfect in my opinon. A young big who could be sent down to Austin for a couple of yrs to refine his game.
Jeremy Tyler. really? the kid that quit high school to become a pro in Israel and now is playing in the joke league in Japan, where he usually fouls out in a shorter time than Ian fouled out in his Euroleague season?
Ryan Richards (who is more or less the same player) will be NBA ready before this guy is even D-league ready.
btw. international pick.
beside the lock out / CBA issues there are some more reasons that a switch of picks to 2012 might be a good strategy.
the 2012 international class looks more intriguing than the 2011 class. especially outside the projected lottery picks Motiejunas and Vesely. (who as well might not declare 2011, if the new CBA isn't agreed)
Radosevic, Zubcic, Milutinovic, Djedovic and some more showed a nice development this season and might all end up as low 1st/high 2nd round players in 2012. if some of the 1991 born international players enter the 2012 draft as well (Lima, Mirotic, Satoransky, Musli) the 2012 class could become pretty deep in the international department. likely better to have 3 or 4 picks then, as opposed to have to pick from this years class.
I am hoping for Vesely to end up pulling a Splitter so we can get him...
Ya that kid...Tylers biggest issue is between the ears. If I remember right, the same things were being said about jennings after he did little overseas. Tyler was the top high school player just 2 yrs ago, he has some skills, and simply needs some guidance. Richards is just as a big question mark as Tyler is. Please explain to me why you think Richards is more NBA ready? He is simply about 2 yrs older and has just as limited basketball experience as Tyler does.
Richards is exactly the same age like Tyler. (to be precisely, Richards is 6 weeks older). and I don't think Richards is NBA ready. not even close. what I said is that he will be NBA ready, maybe in two or three years. because he has some skills, the size and the work ethic. Tyler lacks the latter.
however. we are discussing as if the Spurs could be in the situation to choose one of this two in the next draft.
but Richards already IS a Spurs pick.
what I tried to say:
Tyler isn't a good idea at all. never.
and the fact that the Spurs already have a prospect in the pipeline, who plays the same position, who has the same size, who has similar skills and who is of the same age, makes a bad idea even worse.
btw. to compare Tyler's trip to Europe to Jennings is a bit strange. yes, Jennings didn't exactly star (which were just exaggerated expectations for a 18 years old), but he was far from a bust playing in the best basketball compe ion outside the NBA. (7.6 PPG in the Euroleague).
that's quite a difference to Tyler's 2.1 PPG in the Israel domestic league. (before being put on the inactive list for leaving a game at halftime to protest against his coach because he didn't put him on the court)
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