Spurs' future draft picks

[Darkwaters]

I didn't realize that Aaron Afflalo was so tall and long. I'm going to have to reconsider this now. But he might be a good pickup afterall. The knock on him was always that he "was probably shorter than listed" but at 6'6 with a 6'9 wingspan I'd say thats rather prototypical for the position.

I found a good article on him:

After finishing my Raja Bell post yesterday, I started to think about what player in college reminded me most of Raja Bell. After initially struggling to find someone, it eventually became clear that Aaron Afflalo can be Raja Bell in the NBA. He's an undersized two guard who's made his name on defense and outside shooting. NBA scouts knock him for his lack of length and lack of athletic ability, believing that a long athletic defender can shut him down offensively. These days, scouts are using Afflalo's performance against the length of Corey Brewer as proof that he'll have trouble against those types of players in the NBA. I can't say that I disagree with them much on that front. But why is it that scouts are always looking for superstar player in the draft? And why is it they are always willing to waste a first-round pick on a seven footer with perceived potential? Sometimes, for a good team, adding a good role player that works hard, has a positive at ude, and is a proven winner is something that can be more valuable than a player that has all of the potential in the world. Aaron carries himself in a manner that I wished all star college athletes would (I even told his dad such when I met him at the NCAA tournament last year).


Afflalo hasn't announced he's coming out, but at this point, I can't see any reason for him to stay in college. Unless he grows two inches scouts are going to continue to say the same thing about him. Next years draft class has the potential to be just as deep as this one, so I don't think he'd go any higher next year than he would this summer.

I think the best thing Afflalo can do is hire an agent that is committed to marketing to him to teams the right way. He needs someone that is going to be honest with teams about his weaknesses but prop up his strengths. If Afflalo is able to market himself as a Raja Bell type, rather than a college star whose height and athleticism doesn't translate to the NBA, I think he'll have a chance of ending up in a better situation than he's currently projected.

A team like Phoenix, that is always open to role players that can defend and shoot the three would be foolish to pass on Afflalo. When Raja Bell goes to the bench, they could bring the young Afflalo in to spell him. As well, they will eventually need someone to replace Bell one day. Afflalo seems like the perfect candidate to me. If the Suns aren't open to it, there are a couple of other teams (see the Grizzlies, Nuggets, and Hornets) that are trying to emulate the Suns style. Aaron would be a good fit in any of those places.

Anyhow, good luck to Aaron. We need more good guys like him in the NBA.

With his combination of character, 3 point shooting, defensive mindset as well as a highly polished mid-range game, I think he would have an excellent role on the team.

[jesterbobman]

take away these things from the interview:

1) Gabe Pruitt does not have a promise.

2) The Spurs are definitely looking at a back-up point guard.

3) They are in the process of ranking the point guards.

4) It is not clear whether they intend to take the PG at #28 or #33.

5) A domestic point is NOT out of the question.

Agreed. Though with almond, belinelli and Rudy all moving up, it may be an option to pick up one of those guys, especially as Charlotte and Philly are apparently shopping their picks(22&21), where those guys would be likely to fall. Also if Acie Law fall, then I could see the Spurs moving up to there (by giving up say a 2008 1st and either 33 or 28) to get him, filling the backup point role(who happens to be a big point who can cover smaller SG's like Gordon). Both of these options are intrigueing, but only 1 will happen, as both is giving up a lot. I think we probably stay put though and draft a wingman and a point.

[itzsoweezee]

With his combination of character, 3 point shooting, defensive mindset as well as a highly polished mid-range game, I think he would have an excellent role on the team.

i would love afflalo on the spurs. afflalo or bellelini along w/ a backup point guard would be a great draft for the spurs.

[timvp]

I'd be happy with Lil' Z at 28. It might be a tad bit of a reach but he fits what the Spurs need. At 33, it'd be an even better pick.

Right now, the vibe I'm getting is the Spurs have promised the first round pick to some player. But I can't figure out who. To fit the mold of a promise, the player has to have shut down their workouts. That eliminates Kopo, Priutt, Dudley and a bunch of other players who are still making the rounds.

Does anyone know if Fesenko or Stanko have stopped working out? How about Belinelli or Fernandez?

From the beginning, I thought what the Spurs would do is pick a foreign draft 'n stash at 28, a domestic point guard at 33 and another draft 'n stash at 58.

[Darkwaters]

I think we probably stay put though and draft a wingman and a point.

Agreed. We really need a backup point right now though while we can likely do without an extra wing for at least a year. It really depends on Finley. If Mike decides to come back for the last year of his deal I think we draft a guy like Belinelli with our first and Dowdell with our second. If he decides to opt out and leave then I think we draft an NBA ready SG like Afflalo as well as the domestic PG and cut our losses through the draft.

...of course, if a guy like Rudy Fernandez or Derrick Byars slips then its likely this is all moot and we snatch them up and rethink the plan on the fly.

[timvp]

Afflalo measuring 6-foot-6 in socks sounds like BS to me. He was listed at 6-foot-5 in college but looked more like 6-foot-4. Unless he hit a growth spurt in the last couple weeks, that might just be a rumor being floated around by his agent. He didn't get measured in the pre-draft camp, which further makes me su ious. If he were really 6-foot-6 in socks, he would have measured just to show off his height.

On top of that, he's a bit of a choker. He'd be decent at 33 for the Spurs but I wouldn't be doing any celebratory backflips or anything.

[timvp]

I'm hoping the Spurs didn't make a promise to someone like Stanko. That could blow up in their face if someone like Morris Almond drops into their laps but they are forced to pick Stanko.

[Darkwaters]

He'd be decent at 33 for the Spurs but I wouldn't be doing any celebratory backflips or anything.

Agreed, he would not be worthy of our first rounder. But I haven't even been advocating him at 33 before this. He looks like he might be a good guy to have if those numbers are correct. Otherwise, I'd rather roll the dice on somebody else.

[Darkwaters]

I'm hoping the Spurs didn't make a promise to someone like Stanko. That could blow up in their face if someone like Morris Almond drops into their laps but they are forced to pick Stanko.

Almond or Byars would be spectacular. I really have no interest in Stanko.

[timvp]

Agreed, he would not be worthy of our first rounder. But I haven't even been advocating him at 33 before this. He looks like he might be a good guy to have if those numbers are correct. Otherwise, I'd rather roll the dice on somebody else.

Yeah if Afflalo really is 6-foot-6 in socks, meaning 6-foot-7 NBA height, then yeah he's a good pick. But I doubt that's the case.

Who knows, though.

[timvp]

33 for a domestic point guard is looking quite nice. There's a decent chance that Dowdell or Pruitt will be on the board. And I know Tauren Green doesn't excite anybody but if Dowdell and Priutt are gone, he or maybe someone like Aaron Brooks wouldn't be horrible fall back options.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

What will happen to Beno?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

What will happen to Beno?

He will die!

[Marcus Bryant]

I think we are kidding ourselves that the Spurs will use their 1st rounder on a domestic player. The roster is stacked as it is.

[Bruno]

Does anyone know if Fesenko or Stanko have stopped working out? How about Belinelli or Fernandez?

Barac has worked out today for Mavs.
Fesenko worked out yesterday with Suns. He will work tomorrow with Hawks and the 25th with siwers.
Belinelli last known workout was two days ago with Wizards.
I have seen nothing about a workout with Fernandez. I don't even know if he is in the USA.

[wildbill2u]

NO MORE TWEENERS. They seldom work out.

We need a long 3 first of all to learn the system behind Bruce. Nothing less than 6'8" even if they have the wingspan of a 747.

We're fine right now at backup Sg. My God, we've got Finley/Gino or the reverse there.

[Bruno]

If you want to see a CIA move, Rudy Fernandez is the best candidate.

He has a 1.6M€ buyout and words in Spain is that he won't go in nba but that he will sign a three years cotnract with Barcelona.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

I always hear that, but can someone explain to me what CIA means?

[Mr. Body]

Central Intelligence Agency



j/k. Pop was CIA for some time specializing in USSR and Second World countries, mostly Eastern Bloc.

The Spurs are known to be intensely secretive about their plans and desires, hence 'CIA' and 'CIA Pop'.

[coopdogg3]

NO MORE TWEENERS. They seldom work out.

We need a long 3 first of all to learn the system behind Bruce. Nothing less than 6'8" even if they have the wingspan of a 747.

We're fine right now at backup Sg. My God, we've got Finley/Gino or the reverse there.

We're fine right now, sure, but what about 2008-2009? Barry is getting old, and could be trade bait. Finley is probably with the Spurs one more year, and that's it.

It makes sense to draft a SG, slowly bring them in for a year. And then hopefully they'll be ready next year to get serious minutes. Sure we have other positions of need - back-up PG and a SF, but a SG makes sense too. With this deep draft, we should have some decent picks at 28 and 33. If just one of them works out, then that will help.

[Mr. Body]

You can't really make a promise to Rudy Fernandez at #28, since he's slotted to go much earlier than that (#19 or so). If a higher caliber player slides, you grab him, but when you make a promise, it's to a player slated just behind your pick or in the vicinity. So far none of the usual suspects have stopped work-outs. Obviously the red flag was raised for Anselmli or whatever the Brazilian dude's name is - it has the hallmark of the Mahinmi move all over it.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Central Intelligence Agency



j/k. Pop was CIA for some time specializing in USSR and Second World countries, mostly Eastern Bloc.

The Spurs are known to be intensely secretive about their plans and desires, hence 'CIA' and 'CIA Pop'.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh. Mkay thanks.

[Bruno]

A promise isn't the only CIA move available.

A scenario could be that Fernandez really want to play for Spurs and try to decrease his draft stock to be available at 28.

There are a spanish article that say that Ferandez is way closer to Barcelona than to a nba team and if isn't a lottery pick, he will sign a three years contract with a 900k€ salary per year with Barcelona. I don't know how legit it is but it will scare me if I were a nba GM. You can always imagine that it's BS and that Spurs are the only team to know it because Fernandez want to play for them.

[Marcus Bryant]

Likely the Spurs trade the pick, use #33 on a decent domestic player with the potential to be a bench player, and use #58 on someone destined to play in Europe for the next 3 to 5 seasons.

[Marcus Bryant]

A promise isn't the only CIA move available.

A scenario could be that Fernandez really want to play for Spurs and try to decrease his draft stock to be available at 28.

There are a spanish article that say that Ferandez is way closer to Barcelona than to a nba team and if isn't a lottery pick, he will sign a three years contract with a 900k€ salary per year with Barcelona. I don't know how legit it is but it will scare me if I were a nba GM. You can always imagine that it's BS and that Spurs are the only team to know it because Fernandez want to play for them.

Works for me.