Spurs Mock Draft 2.0 – Investigating a Less Than Ideal Scenario

Cody Williams is in play for the Spurs in the lottery (Photo via Twitter)

Nobody knows for sure what the San Antonio Spurs plan to do on draft night. However, we’ve seen a lot of mock drafts placing either Zaccharie Risacher or Stephon Castle on the Spurs with the fourth overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

To mix things up, in this mock draft let’s investigate San Antonio’s thought process if all three of the top choices on the Spurs Big Board are off the table when it comes time to make their first of two picks in the lottery. 

1. Atlanta Hawks – Alexandre Sarr

While there’s talk of Risacher or even Donovan Clingan being the pick here, my guess is that the Hawks circle back around and end up taking Sarr. He has the tools to be an elite play-finisher and defender, which fits perfectly with Atlanta.

2. Washington Wizards – Stephon Castle

The Wizards could easily go with Risacher at No. 2 but Castle could be the pick if Washington views him as a winner who could potentially grow into being their point guard of the future. 

3. Houston Rockets – Zaccharie Risacher

Risacher’s combine numbers were recently released … and they were underwhelming. He measured at just a hair under 6-foot-10-in-shoes, which was great to see. But almost everything else was a disappointment: small hands, stubby wingspan, only 195 pounds and poor jumping ability. The good news for Risacher is it shouldn’t impact his stock too much. He still is very likely to be picked in the top three and would be the favorite to be picked at No. 4 if he slips that far. 

4. San Antonio Spurs – Reed Sheppard

With their top three players on the Big Board off the table, this would be a difficult decision for the Spurs. As it stands, it looks like the pick will be whichever of Risacher, Castle or Sarr that is available. If all three are gone, the most likely candidates are — in my estimation — Sheppard, Dillingham, Buzelis and Salaun.

Dillingham seems to be slipping a bit and has a good chance of being there at No. 8. Buzelis is 6-foot-10-in-shoes and has interesting tools but he doesn’t appear to have a bankable attribute as a basketball player. If the Spurs don’t like any of the readymade prospects, Salaun could be a worthwhile hail mary as an impressive physical specimen who is quickly trending in the right direction.

But, at the end of the day, I think the pick here has to be Sheppard. He’s very unlikely to drop to No. 8 and his fit alongside Victor Wembanyama is pristine. He’s going to provide San Antonio with much-needed spacing and his high IQ play should help the Spurs begin to turn the ship around. His lack of size is a legitimate concern but flaws are par for the course in this draft. 

Could Sheppard be the pick over Risacher or Castle? Yeah, that’s a possibility. I think size and defensive potential give Risacher and Castle an edge over Sheppard — but it’s close. If San Antonio picks Sheppard, it’ll be very difficult to argue with the logic. Analytic models say he’s the best player in the draft and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he doesn’t pair well with Wembanyama.

5. Detroit Pistons – Matas Buzelis

Buzelis to the Pistons has been the rumor since the lottery balls stopped bouncing. Makes sense … although it’s entirely possible for the Spurs to pick him at No. 4. 

6. Charlotte Hornets – Rob Dillingham

In this mock draft, Dillingham doesn’t fall to No. 8. Could the Spurs actually pick both Sheppard and Dillingham? Eh, it’d probably be fine. The two players are different enough to justify the picks. That said, going tiny on the perimeter has to be considered very unlikely from San Antonio’s perspective because this is an organization that has historically valued size in the draft.  

7. Portland Trail Blazers – Tidjane Salaun

Salaun goes No. 7 here to the Blazers. Is he the pick for the Spurs at No. 8 if he’s available? It’s impossible to tell. I know the Spurs have tracked Salaun extensively but that doesn’t necessarily mean they value him as a top eight pick. 

8. San Antonio Spurs – Cody Williams

If the Spurs pick Sheppard at No. 4, Williams looks like a good complementary selection at No. 8. While Sheppard is small, Williams brings size and adds even more basketball IQ. He’s 6-foot-8-in-shoes and sports a 7-foot-1 wingspan. Williams needs to be more physical and aggressive but he clearly knows how to play the game and could develop into an invaluable multi-purpose connecting piece. 

Ron Holland also could be tempting here. He brings athleticism and undying energy and would make a fun pairing with Sheppard. Holland is also young and the Spurs could trust that they could correct his primary flaw, which is a wonky perimeter jumper.

Devin Carter and Dalton Knecht have to be in the running for the No. 8 pick but it can be argued that both players are too similar to Sheppard.

9. Memphis Grizzlies – Donovan Clingan

From San Antonio’s perspective, it’d be great if Clingan gets drafted in the top three. It’d be really good if he’s drafted in the top seven. If he falls to nine, the Grizzlies wouldn’t let him slide any further. 

It’s looking more and more likely that Clingan will be drafted early, which is good news for the Spurs because it’ll push a more coveted prospect down the board. 

10. Utah Jazz – Ron Holland

The Jazz would value Holland’s vivacity out on the perimeter and in transition. 

11. Chicago Bulls – Devin Carter

Carter getting picked in the lottery is a near certainty at this point. I could see the Spurs picking him at No. 8 — but not if they pick Sheppard. Two undersized combo guards would be a redundant haul. 

But, for example, getting Risacher and Carter sounds like one of the better results from this draft. 

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Ja’Kobe Walter

The Thunder add a 3-and-D prospect with potential playmaking upside. 

13. Sacramento Kings – Dalton Knecht

This is a bit of a drop for Knecht. I’d be shocked if he’s an option for the Spurs at No. 4 but he could be the pick starting with the Pistons at No. 5. 

14. Portland Trail Blazers – Nikola Topic

After suffering a partially torn ACL and partially snipped wingspan, Topic could very well slide down the draft board. I don’t think he’s a lock for the lottery anymore. That said, getting picked by San Antonio at No. 8 is within the realm of possibilities.