Spurs' future draft picks

[AFBlue]

Here's the downlow on Fesenko....stuff like who he compares to, what type of game he has, and most importantly who's working him out. You'll notice that the Suns and Sixers, both picking at the end of the first and both looking to trade/go international with at least one of their picks, are bringing him in for a workout. So, he might not be there for the taking at 33....

Ukrainian big man Kyrylo Fesenko has decided to stay in the draft, according to his agent, Jason Levien.

Fesenko is getting quite a bit of buzz right now, and he's a sleeper for the late first round.

He measured 7-1½ in shoes at a recent workout, had a 7-foot-4 wingspan and weighed 270 pounds. He's an excellent athlete with a low-post game resembling that of Andris Biedrins.

He's already worked out for the Kings and the Bulls, and he has upcoming workouts with the Suns, Clippers, Sixers, Rockets and Hawks.

[EvenFlow]

Afflalo has reportedly worked out for the Spurs and Tucker hasn't, to my knowledge. Also, Afflalo is a decent jumpshooter and solid worker on the defensive end. He's a Raja Bell-type role player....a guy that I could definitely see taking at 33.

Tucker has worked out for the Spurs or atleast is going to. I read it from a Wisconsin native on SR that said they saw it on the news. If only he was two inches taller, he would get my vote for Bruce Bowen replacement.

[AFBlue]

Tucker has worked out for the Spurs or atleast is going to. I read it from a Wisconsin native on SR that said they saw it on the news. If only he was two inches taller, he would get my vote for Bruce Bowen replacement.

Okay, good and thanks for the update. I don't think bringing Tucker in is a bad thing at all. I look at him like a Desmond Mason type...which is not an insult.

[ChumpDumper]

Good point. Fesenko and Koponen would be on the longterm draft 'n stash program. Even Belinelli sounds like he'd be up for a draft 'n stash.

If the Spurs keep all three picks, I think the best bet is that they'd go with two draft 'n stashers and one domestic.

Sounds fair. I'd go as far to say that with a deep draft, it may be possible for the Spurs to find an acceptable player to keep at #33 -- one of several swingmen since that's where we could use the youth most -- and stash #28 (Koponen or Fesenko) and #58 (whomever -- it's a #58). The #33 could possiily contribute and a two-year minimum contract wouldn't hurt our cap number in next summer.

[K-State Spur]

Afflalo has reportedly worked out for the Spurs and Tucker hasn't, to my knowledge. Also, Afflalo is a decent jumpshooter and solid worker on the defensive end. He's a Raja Bell-type role player....a guy that I could definitely see taking at 33.

Solid comparison (obviously that would be on his upside).

[Darkwaters]

Solid comparison (obviously that would be on his upside).

Hopefully Afflalo is like Raja without the blatant flopping and punk-ass antics.

[Darkwaters]

Sounds fair. I'd go as far to say that with a deep draft, it may be possible for the Spurs to find an acceptable player to keep at #33 -- one of several swingmen since that's where we could use the youth most -- and stash #28 (Koponen or Fesenko) and #58 (whomever -- it's a #58). The #33 could possiily contribute and a two-year minimum contract wouldn't hurt our cap number in next summer.

This is the type of draft where we could likely pick up a halfway decent undrafted FA. With all this depth there are going to be some guys that slip through the cracks. A guy like DJ Strawberry, who is a little too short for his position, could be brought in for dirt cheap and given a year to see if he clicks in the system. It's about as low risk a proposition as you'll find. The problem would be finding a roster spot. But depending on how many foreigners we draft and stash this season it could definitely happen.

How much do we wish we had brought in Jose Juan Barrea last season? I mean, I'm glad that we got James White instead, but Barrea would fit a need right now.

[Darkwaters]

Is Acie Law going to wear his usual "Law IV" on the back of his jersey in the pros? I always thought that was really cool for him.

We should get James White to do the same thing with his jersey, "White IV".

[Marcus Bryant]

How about the Spurs draft someone who comes from a state and not a country?

[timvp]

How about the Spurs draft someone who comes from a state and not a country?

Yeah, at least Viktor Sanikidze was from Georgia so the Spurs may be getting closer to making a domestic pick . . .

[Darkwaters]

Yeah, at least Viktor Sanikidze was from Georgia so the Spurs may be getting closer to making a domestic pick . . .

And he did go to an American Junior College for all of about 14 minutes too.

[timvp]

I could just see the Spurs going with a threesome of something like Koponen, Stanko and Tomas.

[Darkwaters]

I could just see the Spurs going with a threesome of something like Koponen, Stanko and Tomas.

I don't think so. Thats 3 long-term projects that might not ever pan out when they will have possible rotation guys for next year's team on the board. A draft like Koponen, Belinelli and Tomas would be much better. Belinelli will probably be ready to make the jump in about a year and Koponen is probably 2 years away. That makes more sense. But Stanko is a ways away and Tomas is kind of like shotgunning in the dark.

[Mr. Body]

The idea the team has made a promise to yet another European project in the late first round fills me with dread.

[Marcus Bryant]

Pruitt seems to be slipping, at least per nbadraft.net.

[Darkwaters]

The idea the team has made a promise to yet another European project in the late first round fills me with dread.

I tend to agree. Any Euro project not named Fernandez is probably a bad idea at this point. In a draft this deep we should be grabbing up a guy that can get a year in the system and start contributing within 12 months (or sooner) and not some random Euro that we'll have endless buyout discussions and "How is that Mahim guy doing" threads started on before its all over.

[Marcus Bryant]

The Spurs have passed on some pretty good low 1st round domestic talents for other priorities in the last 5 drafts. Given that the roster is fairly stacked heading into next season I will not be surprised to see that continue.

[Darkwaters]

Josh Howard, Trevor Ariza, David Lee

I just hope that we can turn the tide and either:

A) Draft an American and get a guy of the previously mentioned quality
B) Draft a Euro that (eventually) has half of the impact of a Tony Parker/Manu Ginobili

The problem is that since Tony and Manu we haven't done anything in the drafts. Several foreigners that haven't worked out. An unproven Frenchman. An undersized low post beast with quite possibly the worst contract ever. Karalov.... I'd just like us to get a rotation out of this draft. Be it now or in 5 years.

[timvp]

DraftExpress now has the Spurs getting Dudley and Priutt at 28 and 33. That's a pretty decent pull.

Dudley is about as unsexy of a pick as you can make but he might be the most ready to step in and play. However, I can't tell if he's more Chris Carrawell or Josh Howard.

I'm leaning toward Carrawell but I think it'd be worth seeing if he can do anything. At worst you have a high character guy who can be ready in case there's an injury. At best you have a guy who can contribute for the next decade.

[timvp]

A new twist on the ol' draft n' stash routine would be to draft Dan Nwaelele. For those who don't know, Nwaelele starred at Air Force. That means he would likely have to serve a two-year commitment a la David Robinson.

Pop is still close to the Air Force program and should have a pretty good idea if Nwaelele has any chance of being an NBA player. At 58, I think it'd be a pretty decent pick.

[Mr. Body]

I'm just glad DX no longer has us picking Aaron Gray in the first round. I was going to pop someone.

He's dropped about 14 spots, by the way.

[objective]

re: Koponen

I've been under the impression that he has zero buyout issues, as in no buyout. Maybe because some breakdown talk about him from before the deadline mentioned something along the lines of him pulling out and going to a bigger euro team to improve his stock or the like.

I could be wrong of course, but if he doesn't have any buyout issues (as opposed to guys like Splitter, Fernandez, and Bellineli), then I could understand how that might be appealing to the Spurs, as an end of first round pick really wouldn't be able to afford his own buyout on the locked in salary late firsts get.

[Bruno]

Aaron Bruce has worked out with Spurs before deciding to come back to school :
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/4900880.html

Bruce participated in workouts with the Rockets, Spurs and Mavericks before removing his name from the draft-eligible list over the weekend.

Draftexpress is reporting that Fazekas will work out with Spurs on June 22nd.
http://draftexpress.com/workout.php?...0&pid=0&tid=20

Thanks EvenFlow for the news on Alando Tucker.

Spurs' workouts :

PG :
Jared Jordan
Gabe Pruitt
Zabian Dowdell
Jamaal Tatum
Aaron Bruce (out)

SG/SF :
Aaron Afflalo
Demetris Nichols
Ron Lewis
Daequan Cook
Alando Tucker

PF/C :
Carl Landry
Kyle Visser
Nikita Shabalkin (out)
Lamont Hamilton
Aaron Gray
Nick Fazekas

Maybe :
Trey Johnson
Wilson Chandler

[mountainballer]

I'm just glad DX no longer has us picking Aaron Gray in the first round. I was going to pop someone.

He's dropped about 14 spots, by the way.

he might still end up as a Spurs pick, but the way he is free falling it would be the #58 pick. considering that a few months ago most mocks had him as a late lottery/mid first rounder, he lost quite some favour of the scouts.
however, if he is picked as a mid or late 2nd rounder, he could be a nice pick for some teams in need of a cheap 3rd string center. Wolves at 41 or Clippers at 45 will be happy to get him IMO.

[AFBlue]

On Pruitt, ESPN has him going #20 in the mid-first round. I'm not saying they're right, but the obvious disparity between that prediction and the DX/Draft.net predictions is noticeable. Which one is right, or are all three wrong?

Here's my point...if the Spurs have a chance to take Pruitt at 28 are they doing it, even if Koponen is there? IMO, this would be a mistake. It seems as if backup PG is one of the only positions that the Spurs have legitimate questions about and if they have an opportunity to address that need immediately with a guy like Pruitt, I think it would be best.

[Darkwaters]

Here's my point...if the Spurs have a chance to take Pruitt at 28 are they doing it, even if Koponen is there? IMO, this would be a mistake. It seems as if backup PG is one of the only positions that the Spurs have legitimate questions about and if they have an opportunity to address that need immediately with a guy like Pruitt, I think it would be best.

But do the Spurs think that Pruitt is the answer? If they don't like his play then he won't get PT and will be a waste of a pick. I agree that he should probably be taken if hes there...assuming that the team is as high on him as we are.