The two underappreciated archetypes I find interesting are:
1. Fat guy with skills
2. Undersized scorer with skills.
I'm not getting too invested in this draft yet. But it sounds like Derick Queen and Jeremiah Frears fit these two types, respectfully.
If we are drafting like 9 and 10, then curious what people think of that as our draft.
Fears is among my worst-case scenario outcomes for this draft. Undersized guard who can't shoot and who at best would project to be a backup PG for as long as we plan on Fox being here.
I have less strong opinions about Queen, but unless you plan on playing two bigs then you're using a Top-10 pick on a backup C who doesn't play any defense. Seems like a bad investment.
Things can change... but a Fears-Queen draft would amount to one of the biggest "wtf just happened" drafts possible.
Ahh. I didn't realize Frears can't shoot. Nevermind. I'm looking for someone more Tyrese Maxey or Jared McCain who slip only due to height.
But overall, regardless of height or body mass index, finding players who are comfortable operating with the ball in their hands to me is important.
Anyway. Just rambling...but drafting a backup C doesn't bother me. I think it should be a priority. With Wemby's height, lots of possibilities for injuries. Or, just to give him time to rest and not have to play Sochan as center.
Last edited by The Truth #6; 03-03-2025 at 02:29 PM.
I haven't done much research on this years supposedly strong draft class but if an undersized PG with shooting issues is a top 10ish pick I am not feeling the best about this years draft.
Not true
Tankathon has Kasparas at 5 and Newell also is at 9.
Disagree
He wrote trade back scenarios FOR players and he mentioned players inside the top 10.
It can be taken either way.
But we all agree you keep a top 4 pick in they are lucky to get one.
This teams needs defense if they ever plan on beating playoff teams. Newell would be the center when Wemby rests. I think Cp3 sucks at defense so Wesley or Branham or both deserve a chance. They are talented. Johnson just doesn’t seem to fit this team as far as winning is concerned. Branham is much more talented than Champ. This roster needs to be revamped. Still no cohesion.
CP3 is a pretty above average defensive player. Branham makes Vassell look like Scottie Pippen.
CP3 is barbecue chicken out there some of the worst close outs I’ve ever seen. He has been a great mentor. I hope Wesley is ready to be backup pg. That adds a whole new dynamic to the team if Wesley is playing confident just as fast as Fox. Branham is fine on defense they just need a better defensive scheme. Branham is there to score. How Spurs gonna beat OKC and Houston without long athletic defenders?
With Vassell looking dubious sure you take a Harper or Edgecombe though not above a Flagg/Bailey. We need rim protection from the PF or C position. Wings like Jaku, Knueppel, McNeeley should be available if we don’t hit top 4 and will get us some shooting. Still like Kalkbrenner in the 2nd round as a possible backup C solution and with 40% 3 PT shooting he can probably play with Wemby some too.
Essengue is raw like Ousmane Dieng. Rather see the Spurs go for McNeeley.
Calling it now Spurs will be drafting McNeeley
Paul's in the 84th percentile in crafted DPM. Branham is 2nd percentile.
https://craftednba.com/players/compa...malaki-branham
I also remember for most of last year Branham was letting his man shoot 57% against him. Yes a guard who turned everyone he defended into 2000 Shaq.
I thought he suffered from a Chronic Melanin Deficiency?
1 on 1 Essengue would clamp down Mcneeley making it hard for him to dribble or shoot. Essengue would probably get to the bucket and dunk on him at least twice while easily getting to the bucket almost every time. Score would probably be 12 5
Good thing this isn’t a one on one league.
Fears shoots 84% on good volume from the FT line. They would call that a strong shooting signal, plus, he will be 18 on draft night.
Tyrese Maxey shot 29% from 3 at UK. He was also a 83% FT shooter. Shooting signal is a thing.
I think Fears is going to shoot, he's got a high FT percentage, he's shooting 45% on 95% unassisted midrange shots, and 40% of his 3s are unassisted makes. My issue is him isn't his shooting, it's pretty much everything else. He probably won't, but he really needs to go back to school for another year. Man's got an offensive rating of 93 in conference play and he keeps turning the ball over. The flashes are awesome, but the consistency just isn't there, even considering his age. I think if you draft him he's probably going to go the g league route for at least 2 years before he becomes a positive contributor for the team, even off the bench. That's not a bad idea if you could say, get him in the mid-late teens and develop him with the idea of having him replace Fox in 5 years, but if you're taking him with a mid-lottery pick that's a harder sell.
He’s 18, so his game shows some slop and inefficiency in D1. Won’t take two years to cleanup the turnovers and three ball, though. If you don’t need him to contribute next season and he can just develop, he’d be a value pick anywhere like 7/8 or later.
Just spit-balling here, but, I hope we strongly consider trading a 2025 pick for either or both of Cam Johnson or Naz Reid if we are not in the top 6 or so.
Throw in Vassell, KJ and future picks if necessary. In my mind, Cam and Naz would get us to a compe ive level next season and we could bring along one rookie on a more traditional path than the fast trajectories of Castle and Wemby. Of course, I know nothing of caps and contracts. Just know the team I'd like to see next season.
Fox/CP3
Castle/Champagnie
Cam/?
Reid/Sochan
Wemby/?
Maybe McNeely could slot behind Cam and we keep Biyombo as a backup if we lose KJ and Vassell? This is likely not feasible, but, I'd be cool with these types of moves if we are not in the range of real difference makers.
I think McNeely is going to be better than Cam. If you look at his TaT profile,he has both high 3PA rate and high FTA rate. That’s not a normal mix to see a guy who chucks up a lot of 3s AND gets to the line a lot. You’re not really doing yourself any favors running him off the line.
I gave a list of players that fit an archetype. Some were in the top ten and some are projected in the 20's. I was clear that some on the list would be trade back guys because we wouldn't spend a top 10 pick on that. I thought that was pretty easy to understand, but yet here you are...
I think Fears is going to be really good as most of us would love him if we had not signed Fox - I think he is so good if he is there when we draft I would bet we get a couple of calls regarding teams trading up to get him. As far as McNeely he just seems a perfect pick for us a good player who fits a need and will have a long career in the NBA.
Fears is 18. Fox is 27. If CP comes back, it will be for one more year, which is also the amount of time left on Wesley’s deal. There should be some PT for him in 26-27. If CP does not return, there will be some minutes available next year.
I need to do a deeper dive into this draft, no doubt. McNeely and Reid or bust!
McNeely / Knueppel may not be quick enough to guard NBA players at SF position. Neswell / Queen / CMB would be within SPURS' pick and fill the PF position, which is also a position to be filled by the SPURS. Fears / Demin / Miles Byrd could also be drafted to fill the 'sixth man' scorer role. This assumes both picks aren't the top 8 draft picks.
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