Post-Draft Mortem

[Ocotillo]

As per usual around here following the draft, there is the usual din of naysayers bemoaning the picks the Spurs have made and offering up superior suggestions to the the ones the front office drafted.

The Spurs used their first round pick this year to draft a fairly obscure foreign player that is so common a practice, that we often make jokes on the board making up foreign sounding names saying that is who they are going to pick. So why did they do it? Why do they do it? The most common critique is Duncan is fast approaching the end so we have to scramble to put the right pieces around him to get that next ring. So draft some kid who while they may be at their ceiling, is ready to step in a contribute this year rather than developing them overseas, that makes sense doesn't it?

If you have followed the Spurs any, you know about Jacob Riis and the Stonecutter Credo. It is posted all over the locker room in various languages and has become the philosophy by which the team works and develops. But it goes beyond the court. Pop believes it applies to all aspects of life so of course the front office would be under the same philosophy.

When you are as good an organization as the Spurs are, it is because you have a plan, a creed and you execute that in the way you conduct your life. The Spurs have had 14 straight years of 50+ wins, better than any other organization in the NBA. They have drafted a certain way and it has served them well. Sometimes that pick develops into a Tony Parker, sometimes that pick develops into a Ian Mahimni. You don't get a diamond every time. You don't crack the stone on every swing of the hammer.

When I saw the video of R.C. talking about the draft night, I was most intrigued by the smile on this face and then the smile that came back at the very end when asked about storing Jean Charles in Europe for salary cap space. That was as revealing as you will ever see the front office. These guys don't disclose anything. The twinkle in R.C.'s eye said it all though. He wanted a player for the future and he wanted one who could step in right away and help Tim get the fifth ring.

He knew he was not going to draft the player to help with next years pursuit of the championship. He needs a better quality player than he was going to draft at 28 or at least, he needed a better quality player for 13/14 than he was going to get with the 28th pick. By drafting Jean Charles, he could get both. Without bringing the kid in, there will be more cap room to be flexible and pursue the needed player either via free agency or a trade.

These guys know what they are doing. They just keep pounding the rock.

[Marrow]

well said

It's hard to believe that there are still people that doubt the spurs ability to successfully run their team year after year. Once every so often there are moves made that don't pay off, however they still have an incredible strike rate at uncovering, developing and acclimating prospective talent.

Spurs fans don't know how good they've got it.

[Darkwaters]

While I might have my own opinions on who the Spurs should draft each season, I'm never overly critical of the choices. Why? Time and time again they've proven that this organization picks about as well as anyone. And besides, they're the professionals and we're just a bunch of internet jockey's reading DX. I trust their professional judgment.

So if they say that Livio Jean-Charles is their man, more power to them.