Did Caleb Houstan Get a Draft Promise from the Spurs?

[SAGirl]

Man, those finishes from the 0:50 mark to the 1:10 mark are some of the most unathletic moves I've ever seen from a perimeter-oriented NBA draft prospect

It reminded me of slow mo, that’s kind of what made me think Grizzlies. They have two first round picks and wouldn’t be scared by him being slow. They also can afford to give him time to development strength. The guy can shoot at least, coming off screens. It adds depth to that team. I could see it for them. He was also a 5 star recruit and they don’t have picks above 22 so maybe he’s a gamble on a former blue chip prospect they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. They also don’t need a star but rather guys that fit around Ja.

[SAGirl]

Could easily be OKC at 30 or 34. They have as many picks as we do, and have a recent history of drafting players who underwhelmed at first, Poku, Giddey.

The Grizzlies have picks at 22 and 29. They may have also promised the latter. Last season they picked up Santi Aldana at 30, who iirc had also shut down his combine bc he had a promise from OKC for a second round pick. They picked him up in the first round to jump on OKC. He has looked like a second round talent to me when I have watched him but he’s a big man shooter, so either he pans out or doesn’t, but it just looks prototypical for OKC taking gambles and hoping to hide their late round picks and other teams jumping up on them.

The Grizzlies also made a questionable trade to pick up Williams who was a 5 star recruit they had been ogling since high school who then had a bad shooting season in college. Obviously they aren’t afraid to keep taking gambles on guys they like and take them higher than expected to jump on OKC-tagged prospects.

Why the Spurs here? Honestly I don’t know. Possibly high character guy etc. Other things we don’t know.

Something pepp should keep in mind is that he’s young. He needs to add strength. Many guys in the late first or second round are gambles one way or another. A shooter off acreens with size who can defend, maybe there’s a useful role player there in the future like slow mo.

Maybe the guy just got sick, but I doubt that. His agent would have beeen on damage control in that case.

[SAGirl]

I hope the only way this guy is in the Spurs camp is as an undrafted free agent on a make good contract.

No he’s young enough to go back to college, add strength and better shooting and try again next season.

[SAGirl]

I just want to say people should take a look at Dalen Terry. He's pretty interesting.

Yeah he is.

[wildbill2u]

We took SLo Mo despite his lack of speed or athleticism and that worked out for him pretty well. He proved to be a legit NBA player and is still in the league somehow. (I think SA Girl pays part of his salary )

[timvp]

Uh oh.

[KingKev]

We know the Spurs are going to use one pick on an absolute head scratcher that is pretty much a given. This sounds like exactly the type.

We’ve been average at best the last 4 drafts but if they are going to reach again hopefully its with the 25th or 38th pick.

[Mr. Body]

We know the Spurs are going to use one pick on an absolute head scratcher that is pretty much a given. This sounds like exactly the type.

We’ve been average at best the last 4 drafts but if they are going to reach again hopefully its with the 25th or 38th pick.

It's like an expensive shopping trip. After picking up so many nutritious groceries, you're allowed to grab a pack of pork rinds.

[KingKev]

It's like an expensive shopping trip. After picking up so many nutritious groceries, you're allowed to grab a pack of pork rinds.

Except the pork grinds in this case are quite costly…

[SAGirl]

Ive started to believe this promise is a lot more likely and shared my thoughts on the Keegan Murray thread which has a lengthy discussion on upside/age vs proven talent and positive statistical production. I dont want to repeat myself here, but have definitely changed to support this swing on their second round pick or the 25 if they feel he will be snatched up by 38.

[BatManu20]

Houstan would be a terrible pick in the 1st Round… with any of the 3. At pick 38 I could handle. But not in the First.

This is why I now firmly believe the Spurs will select him in the First Round.

[BatManu20]

[Ice009]

Oh no, this doesn't sound good at all. Pick 38 at best, or undrafted I hope.

[Mr. Body]

The trend of picking players who couldn't shoot in college is really weird to me. We saw it last year with Ziaire Williams, will see it this year with Baldwin and Houstan. Ziaire wasn't completely bad for Memphis this year -- .450 fg%, .314 3pt%, .632 2pt% (although he didn't do anything else and his advanced metrics were all negative) - but right now he wasn't worth the #10 pick.

EDIT: Houstan wasn't terrible from 3 last year -- .355 at good volume, 2.0/5.6 -- it's that he's not good at anything else.

[exstatic]

The trend of picking players who couldn't shoot in college is really weird to me. We saw it last year with Ziaire Williams, will see it this year with Baldwin and Houstan. Ziaire wasn't completely bad for Memphis this year -- .450 fg%, .314 3pt%, .632 2pt% (although he didn't do anything else and his advanced metrics were all negative) - but right now he wasn't worth the #10 pick.

Houstan shot 35.5% from 3 and 78% on FTs. He just sucked inside the arc, shooting only 42% on 2s, which is pretty horrible. I’m OK at 38, but not higher. A FRP is guaranteed two years, and even late, that’s a pretty good chunk of change. They also have to guarantee year 3 before year 2 starts, or not, like PHO did with Smith. If you want to see two full years, you have to pay for three.

As a potential SRP, they could structure it as two years, guaranteed, and a team option for year 3, so that they could get two years at the cost of two years, and year three doesn’t cost if he busts. If he pans out,you pick up his year three option, and you have Bird rights the next year.

[rjv]

houstan at 38, fine. houstan before then, not so fine.

[BatManu20]

Yahoo.com released a new mock a couple hours ago. Shockingly, with our 3rd FRP, they have us taking Houstan.


25. San Antonio (from Boston): SF Caleb Houstan(Michigan)

It was reported by ESPN's Jonathan Givony last month that some believe that Houstan may have a first-round promise, which led to his decision to turn down an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine. If that's the case, the team in question is obviously under the impression that his numbers at Michigan don't match up with the player that he can potentially be. Houstan shot just over 38% from the field this past season, but at 6-foot-8 he has good size for an NBA wing. With regard to where he could potentially go, a team with multiple firsts (San Antonio has three) could fit the bill.

[exstatic]

Yahoo.com released a new mock a couple hours ago. Shockingly, with our 3rd FRP, they have us taking Houstan.


25. San Antonio (from Boston): SF Caleb Houstan(Michigan)

It was reported by ESPN's Jonathan Givony last month that some believe that Houstan may have a first-round promise, which led to his decision to turn down an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine. If that's the case, the team in question is obviously under the impression that his numbers at Michigan don't match up with the player that he can potentially be. Houstan shot just over 38% from the field this past season, but at 6-foot-8 he has good size for an NBA wing. With regard to where he could potentially go, a team with multiple firsts (San Antonio has three) could fit the bill.

I think what was reported was a promise, not a first round promise. This board would have exploded if it were reported as the latter.

[offset formation]

The trend of picking players who couldn't shoot in college is really weird to me. We saw it last year with Ziaire Williams, will see it this year with Baldwin and Houstan. Ziaire wasn't completely bad for Memphis this year -- .450 fg%, .314 3pt%, .632 2pt% (although he didn't do anything else and his advanced metrics were all negative) - but right now he wasn't worth the #10 pick.

EDIT: Houstan wasn't terrible from 3 last year -- .355 at good volume, 2.0/5.6 -- it's that he's not good at anything else.

Correction. It's that he's *SLOW*, both in the fleet-afoot and slow release way.

[offset formation]

houstan at 38, fine. houstan before then, not so fine.

Houstan at 9 incoming. When asked why in the post draft presser, Brian Wright will respond with, "Because he's got electrolytes, and we see him as a higher draft pick if he'd come out a year later."

Rinse and repeat.

[RC_Drunkford]

slow footed and unathletic? Sounds like a Spurs pick to me I'm sure he has good character

[Degoat]

I’ve been watching some film breakdowns for him on YouTube, I don’t love it but I wouldn’t absolutely hate it. If the spurs think he can develop into a Cam Johnson type player that ain’t bad for pick 25. Nothing can be worse then Luka Samanich

[CGD]

Horribly underwhelmed by this guy at 25. Is he super smart/high bbiq or something?

His physical profile makes Kyle Anderson look like Anthony Edwards. If you’re gonna reach, go get the Italian kid at 25. At least you can stash him.

[Ice009]

In the first round, no. Seeing this thread with that name gets me very upset just thinking about the first round with his name in it. If he goes in the first round, let someone else take him.

[rascal]

Do the Spurs even regard Athleticism and Quickness as assets in a player at all?

Height matters little without Athleticism and Quickness.